TO SAVOR GOD’S INFINITE NATURE
“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.” Job 11:7-9 NIV
Suffering is an inevitable part of life on this earth no matter how wealthy we are, how diligently we nurture relationships, how kind and loving we strive to be, or how carefully we’ve built a reputation in society.
Yet, it is by God’s prevenient grace that He provides a way through and out of any situation we can imagine, shaping the outcome into something that perhaps could not have been formed in us any other way (Romans 8:28).
In one of the greatest works on this subject, Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering, the late Tim Keller writes:
“Some suffering is given in order to chastise and correct a person for wrongful patterns of life (as in the case of Jonah imperiled by the storm), some suffering is given not to correct past wrongs but to prevent future ones (as in the case of Joseph sold into slavery), and some suffering has no purpose other than to lead a person to love God more ardently for himself alone and so discover the ultimate peace and freedom.”
Our theme scripture shows this tension through Zophar’s counsel, a statement that is theologically accurate but pastorally misapplied. While Zophar speaks truth about God’s infinite nature, he fails to embody God’s compassionate heart in Job’s circumstance. God’s mysteries are not meant to crush us further but to humble us and draw us into deeper trust and confidence in the One who knows, even when we do not understand. Child of God, there are questions we will never have answers to on this side of glory.
Scriptures like Job 11 remind us of the limits of human reasoning when standing before divine providence. As Paul exhorts, “Do not give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith” (1 Timothy 1:4, NKJV). Instead, anchor your trust in the One who neither slumbers nor sleeps. Hallelujah.
Prayer: My Father, I acknowledge that Your ways are higher than mine and Your wisdom is beyond my grasp. Teach me to trust not in what I understand, but in who You are. When questions remain unanswered, help me rest in Your presence, knowing You are always working for my good and Your glory. Thank You for the grace that carries me when understanding fails. Amen.
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Isaiah 55:8
• Romans 11:3
• Deuteronomy 29:29
