"For who has known the mind of the Lord?"

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”  “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

(Romans 11:33-36 ESV)

Paul, in speaking to the remnants of Israel, made a statement that we hear often today. Paul speaks of the hardness of the hearts of those Israelites who rejected Christ in the very same manner in which He is rejected today. He also speaks of God's grace and how it was not wasted on those with hardened hearts, as it was given to God’s elect. God's grace, a fundamental aspect of our faith, is His unmerited favor towards us, despite our sinfulness. No doubt, Paul is using Isaiah 6:9 to make his point about the transformative power of God's grace.

Earlier in Chapter 11, Paul quoted Isaiah regarding Israel's rejection of God and the killing of the prophets. In our verses today, Paul speaks of the sovereignty of God. He reminds us, as he tells Romans, that the depth of God's knowledge is unfathomable in the human mind. He reminds us that in our feeble minds, we are unable to scrutinize God’s decisions in creation. The sovereignty of God, a concept deeply rooted in our faith, means that God is in control of all things, and His will is supreme. This understanding should bring us comfort and trust in His plan, even when we cannot fully comprehend it.

I see a parallel to Job in these verses. Job questioned God, and in response, God said to Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you understand. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Is this not what God reveals to us today in one way or another?

Who are we to question God? However, in speaking to many unbelievers, we hear the same things: “How could a good God send someone to suffer in hell forever?” “How could a good God let a child die?” “How could a good God not stop a Tsunami from killing thousands of people?” It is an answer we do not have, nor should we try to pretend we know. Do you know the mind of God, and are you His counselor? God knows the outcome of every single nanosecond in the timeline in which we live, right down to the end of this world. Billy Graham called it a mystery to which we will never know the answer unless God tells us when we meet Him, if He even decides to then. (Statement mine)

We have never “done” anything for God that He did not assign to us, no gifts by our own hands, no support to a self-sustaining God, nor anything that God would see as a gift. Isaiah, speaking to Israel, said, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” And, while this was meant for the Israelites, I think it still applies to us. We can do nothing without God. Even in our salvation, we are sinners.

So, what do we do with this? First, we remember our place in creation. We are created, and our purpose here and now is to serve and glorify God. This means living a life that reflects His love, mercy, and justice, and sharing His message of salvation with others. Second, when we or others are in a trial or trials, remember, we will not be able to figure out or comprehend the wisdom and knowledge of God. Lastly, we must trust in God and be a vessel for God to reach those in sorrow and troubles so that they, too, may come to trust in the sovereignty of God.

Grace and Peace"