JUST HOW BIG IS
THE GOD WHO SENT US JESUS?

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor (Isaiah 40:13ff)? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again (Job 41:11)? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen (Romans 11:33-36).

Human wisdom cannot comprehend the depths of God's wisdom; not even a Christian can do that. Human knowledge cannot penetrate the depths of God's knowledge; not even a Christian can do that. Humans can trust God's judgments, but they cannot comprehend them. Humans can depend on God's ways, but they cannot understand them. The human who declares that he or she comprehends God deceives himself or herself. In this self deceit, he or she likely will deceive others.

The Pharisees were convinced that they understood God. They were experts in the scriptures (Matthew 23:2,3). They had enormous confidence in their knowledge and understanding. They had enormous confidence in their interpretation of scripture and religious emphasis. They had enormous confidence in their religious systems and traditions. They were so certain that they comprehended God's will and intentions that they dared contradict, chastise, oppose, ridicule, and conspire against Jesus.

Jesus was God in the flesh (John 1:1-5). If they had expert knowledge about God, how could they fail to recognize God in the flesh? If they were such experts in the scripture, how could they fail to recognize the Creator in the flesh? If they accurately knew how God would do things, how could they fail to see God's work in Jesus' deeds and teachings?

Amazingly, they encouraged the death of God's Son because they were confident that they knew God. I find that frightening. Do you?

Just how big is the God Who sent us Jesus? Big enough to save us through His mercy. Big enough to sustain us in His grace. Big enough to use Jesus' blood to redeem us from our sins. Big enough to sanctify us in Jesus' death. Big enough to justify us in Jesus' sacrifice. Big enough to turn a deaf ear to Satan's accusations against us. Big enough to destroy our guilt. Big enough to give us peace in Christ.

Because we comprehend His wisdom and knowledge? No. Because we trust Him.

David Chadwell

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Bulletin Article, 8 August 1999
This article is also available as Quanto grande è Dio? in Italian.
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