"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV).
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33, NIV).
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever" (Deut. 29:29).
Wouldn't it be hunky-dory if God answered all our questions? But wait a minute, we are assuming we have the capacity to apprehend God. God is the ultimate mystery to never be fathomed! The medieval theological maxim still holds water: "The finite cannot grasp (or contain) the infinite." We cannot plumb the mysteries of God, as it were. This is called the profundity or incomprehensibility of God doctrinally speaking. Our limited minds can no longer understand God's motives than if we tried to explain the Internet to an ant. The only info we need is enough to have faith, and faith is what pleases God and without faith, it is impossible to please Him (cf. Heb. 11:6). The more we know the more responsible we are and if we knew all the answers we would ultimately be on a par with God Almighty Himself.
The supreme example of a man who demanded answers from the Almighty was Job. He kept asking God "Why me, Lord?" But God countered: "Who are you Job?" God was saying: Who do you think you are? Let me ask you a few questions? God is simply too profound to explain Himself.--the the profundity of God. God had questions for Job to answer just to humble him and put him in his place. God is not accountable to anyone and for anything He does. He depends on nothing and no one for His existence. Nebuchadnezzar said, "Who can stay His hand, or say unto Him, 'What hast thou done?'" He stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases" (Job 23:13, NIV).
If God answered all our questions, we would not have faith, but knowledge. However, John 16:23 says: "In that day you shall ask me nothing." What Jesus seems to be referring to is that we will be satisfied with the knowledge that He gives us and the answers He does give to us about our loved ones and related subjects. If God were obliged to answer all our questions, there would be no end to the inquiry. Our questions would keep us from having faith and taking that "leap of faith."
Job was satisfied in seeing God or in having a revelation of Him, that humbled him and made him realize that even he had self-righteousness ("Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes," according to Job 42:5). In spirit, all our questions will be answered, but technically they won't and cannot be. We are finite and our minds cannot contain God's infinity. Answering all our questions is akin to answering all our prayers, or doing miracles on demand--they weaken, not strengthen faith. We don't want all our prayers answered our way because we don't know what is best for us and would mess up our lives in the process--thank God all your prayers weren't answered the way you wanted.
Miracles only give a thirst for more miracles and don't make faith--actually, faith makes miracles. The key from Job is to know God, not know why He does everything. Quite frankly, it may be none of our business! He doesn't owe us; we owe Him! And so in conclusion: Just like Job's inquiry, we have to realize who God is and who we are, and not presume on His wisdom in withholding info from us (remember what Satan said to Eve, that God was withholding a secret?)--some things are better off not knowing. In sum, God is too kind to be cruel, too wise to make a mistake, and too deep to explain Himself. Soli Deo Gloria!
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33, NIV).
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever" (Deut. 29:29).
Wouldn't it be hunky-dory if God answered all our questions? But wait a minute, we are assuming we have the capacity to apprehend God. God is the ultimate mystery to never be fathomed! The medieval theological maxim still holds water: "The finite cannot grasp (or contain) the infinite." We cannot plumb the mysteries of God, as it were. This is called the profundity or incomprehensibility of God doctrinally speaking. Our limited minds can no longer understand God's motives than if we tried to explain the Internet to an ant. The only info we need is enough to have faith, and faith is what pleases God and without faith, it is impossible to please Him (cf. Heb. 11:6). The more we know the more responsible we are and if we knew all the answers we would ultimately be on a par with God Almighty Himself.
The supreme example of a man who demanded answers from the Almighty was Job. He kept asking God "Why me, Lord?" But God countered: "Who are you Job?" God was saying: Who do you think you are? Let me ask you a few questions? God is simply too profound to explain Himself.--the the profundity of God. God had questions for Job to answer just to humble him and put him in his place. God is not accountable to anyone and for anything He does. He depends on nothing and no one for His existence. Nebuchadnezzar said, "Who can stay His hand, or say unto Him, 'What hast thou done?'" He stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases" (Job 23:13, NIV).
If God answered all our questions, we would not have faith, but knowledge. However, John 16:23 says: "In that day you shall ask me nothing." What Jesus seems to be referring to is that we will be satisfied with the knowledge that He gives us and the answers He does give to us about our loved ones and related subjects. If God were obliged to answer all our questions, there would be no end to the inquiry. Our questions would keep us from having faith and taking that "leap of faith."
Job was satisfied in seeing God or in having a revelation of Him, that humbled him and made him realize that even he had self-righteousness ("Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes," according to Job 42:5). In spirit, all our questions will be answered, but technically they won't and cannot be. We are finite and our minds cannot contain God's infinity. Answering all our questions is akin to answering all our prayers, or doing miracles on demand--they weaken, not strengthen faith. We don't want all our prayers answered our way because we don't know what is best for us and would mess up our lives in the process--thank God all your prayers weren't answered the way you wanted.
Miracles only give a thirst for more miracles and don't make faith--actually, faith makes miracles. The key from Job is to know God, not know why He does everything. Quite frankly, it may be none of our business! He doesn't owe us; we owe Him! And so in conclusion: Just like Job's inquiry, we have to realize who God is and who we are, and not presume on His wisdom in withholding info from us (remember what Satan said to Eve, that God was withholding a secret?)--some things are better off not knowing. In sum, God is too kind to be cruel, too wise to make a mistake, and too deep to explain Himself. Soli Deo Gloria!