Key Texts: John 16: 7 – 13; Luke 18: 18 – 27; Matthew 13: 1 – 17; Isaiah 55: 8 – 9;
Additional Texts: John 6: 36 – 65; Isaiah 45; Luke 24: 23 – 32; Romans 11: 33; Job 26: 14; Psalm 145: 13; Job 11: 7; Job 36: 20; Psalm 139: 6; Malachi 3: 6 – 7; James 1: 17; Psalm 102: 25 – 27; Hebrews 13: 8; Isaiah 40: 27 – 28; Mark 4: 1 – 10; Acts 1: 6 – 7.
Happy belated Mothers’ Day greetings to all the mothers who were celebrated last week in other parts of the world! Special greetings (again) to my dear Queen! May you continually be blessed and honoured.
After exactly one year, the ‘Show and Tell’ series has come to a close. I thought I would have been finished writing about lessons’ from Jesus’ candidness and life in general within a few weeks, but soon discovered there’s so much more to learn for which I had not even broached the surface! Indeed, though it continued for twelve months, it would take more than all eternity to fathom all we might learn about God through Jesus’ speech and actions as He walked the earth! So, for now…the series is ‘finished.’ Thanks for your attentiveness to the content (whether you read from the beginning or joined midway), and I hope this entry will be just as beneficial as the others have been.
In light of this vastness of our God, the final instalment is titled ‘Unfathomable’. The Key and Additional Texts are always helpful if read prior to reading the articles, but the key messages may be grasped nonetheless if you are pushed for time.
If you’re like me, you’ve perhaps wondered at some point, whether you will have appropriate answers if anyone challenges you about your faith, or asks a question about God that you do not know the answer for. What do we do or say in such situations? Will a soul be lost or discouraged if we don’t know the answers? Once again, Jesus’ character gives us some guidance.
To begin, I…don’t…know.
Practice saying that a few times if you feel subtly pressured to always have an answer for any question about God, either from yourself or others. Sometimes questions about God are in relation to His sovereignty, and for those questions, there are explicit truths in the Word to guide us. As seen in the Additional and Key Texts, God is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, truthful, trustworthy, patient, loving, just and powerful; His ways are virtuous and righteous, and He is able to use all our experiences for His glory and our good. We celebrate these characteristics of God, regardless of them being revealed through Jesus’ witness on earth or through prophets and disciples in the Bible. Yet, despite the comfort and reassurance we receive when we remind ourselves of God’s unchanging character, we must also accept that He is unfathomable.
Some may suggest that questioning God is sinful, but the distinction must be made between questioning His existence and sovereignty, as opposed to questioning why He allows suffering and pain, His plans, or how and when He responds to us. If you’re a committed follower of Christ and you’ve never had any questions for God (unuttered or verbalised), you perhaps have not walked through any particularly dark, overwhelming or confusing seasons yet (and I pray you don’t!). If you have been made to feel like you’re unfocused or weak to have asked God questions (or indeed to have even thought of them!), be aware that in our lowest moments, we are sometimes prone to wonder why. Sometimes, revelations from God’s Word, wise counsellors and hindsight, provide us with answers to our questions, but often, our inner conundrums about God’s decisions simply will not be answered on this side of eternity.
In the Key Texts, Jesus cautions His disciples, informing them that He has much to reveal to them, but they were incapable of understanding at that point. In Mark 4, when questioned about why He taught in parables, His response was similar – He teaches us in varied ways depending on our maturity (but never tells us everything there is to discover about Him!). When He was alone with the disciples, that was the opportune time when He taught them everything about those particular lessons for that season, that others could only learn through parables. In John 6, Jesus’ expositions about the Kingdom were mind-boggling to the disciples – indeed, they grumbled and seemingly resigned themselves to lifelong ignorance about His ways, and some even stopped following Him!
Unfathomable. We will never fully know all God’s thoughts on every subject. We will not always know His plans and rationale for the circumstances He allows. We cannot write a series or book lengthy enough to summarise Him in a nutshell. We will often not have all the answers for those who feel He has disappointed them. (Though it may not immediately bring the comfort we seek), what we will always have contrastingly, is the assurance of His eternal power, omnipresence and omnipotence. If we hold fast to the truth that He is unchanging (even in His mysterious ways!); our great Creator (Genesis 1-4; Psalm 102: 25 – 27); unsearchable (Psalm 145: 3), and in possession of knowledge for which we will only know the ‘outskirts’ (Job 26: 14; Isaiah 55: 8 – 9), we will gradually save ourselves the disappointment of trying to understand everything, and perhaps focus more on who we should be in each season of walking with Him. That’s a challenge for me as well, but I promise that when I start to wonder about God’s intentions and get no answers, instead of becoming anxious, I will respond initially by admitting ‘I…don’t…know’, but continue to seek Him with an open mind, absorbing what He wants me to hear in that moment.
Jesus Himself asked God questions for which He did not get the desired answers in Gethsemane (Matthew 26: 36 – 46) and at the cross (Mark 15: 34). God stuck to His plan for even His Son’s life (Romans 8: 32) regardless of His painful, unanswered questions, and now Jesus is seated in victory at His right hand, interceding for me (Romans 8: 34). Jesus knew His mission and determinedly pursued it, but still asked a few questions. He is God’s Son and knows Him deeply, but His experience of having no answers at those points gives us the assurance that we, in contrast, (unaware of everything about Him), may likewise struggle. Give yourself and others a break if they go through seasons where, in their humanity, questions about God’s plans abound. I’m a living witness that He will take us through those seasons; ultimately, what we need to do as we endure is to purpose to learn everything possible from them.
Like the disciples, perhaps He is reserving further revelations for when we are alone with Him, or for an apt time for sharing truths which may only be discerned through divine revelation (Luke 10: 21 – 24). Like Job, perhaps He is taking us through challenges, to use our lives for His glory in greater ways than before. Ultimately, His plan for our lives overrides the challenges involved in accepting that He is a mystery. Don’t give up because you find Him a mystery – He is perhaps doing something that will only be understood (and valued!) in hindsight. He is unfathomable, but He does not resent sincere, open and direct questions from those who seek Him or salvation. (Since God knows our thoughts in advance of us having them (Psalm 139; Psalm 94: 11), it is futile to think that if our questions are not verbalised in prayer, we have somehow managed to hide them from Him)!
Considering when Jesus was asked questions by His disciples and others, He did not always respond in the same way. With the woman of Samaria, He took the opportunity to use the conversation (in which her first question was about the source of Living Water), to address her personal struggles, and reveal the Way to her (John 4: 1 – 42). She later evangelised to many who believed in Him because of her testimony. To the legal expert who questioned Him about how one might inherit eternal life, He patiently shared a parable, encouraging him to live like the kind Samaritan (Luke 10: 25 – 37). To Martha, who challenged Him to intervene when Mary did not help her enough with housework, He patiently responded and reminded her that she had lost focus on what really mattered unlike the sister she complained about (John 10: 38 – 42). To religious leaders, who (in several Scriptures), wanted to test or trap Him as their jealousy for His popularity grew, He often challenged their rhetoric and boldly demonstrated His just, omniscient views (John 8: 4 – 11; Matthew 22: 17 – 46).
To the disciples, sometimes His answers to their questions were very direct and even included bonus teachings for their growth (Mark 7: 1-24; Mark 9: 11 – 13; Mark 10: 10 – 45). Yet, at other times, He did not give the them the direct responses they sought; when asked whether He would restore the kingdom, He told them it was not appropriate for them to know the Father’s timing and will. Likewise, when Peter questioned Him about His views about John, Jesus essentially cautioned him to focus on the personal instruction he had been given instead – subtext : ‘Mind your business!’. Ouch!
In like manner, God sometimes gives us direct answers to our questions through His Word or revelations through others, whilst at other times, He seems silent or seemingly deflects. It is admittedly frustrating when we get no clear response for direction or help, and if we are not careful to trust Him in all seasons, the lack of specific, unambiguous feedback, may cause us to feel distant from Him. I…don’t…know why God works as He does – He’s unfathomable. What I do know is that besides being mysterious, He is always working, even when it seems He is distant (John 5: 17), and can be trusted to cause all things to work together for our good and His glory (Romans 8: 28). He’s unfathomable, He’s omniscient and He’s in control. Fellow pilgrims, we may not be able to understand His ways and thoughts fully, but we may fully trust Him to protect and guide us on the best paths through our journeys, regardless of how difficult they may be (Romans 8: 38 – 39; John 14: 27; Philippians 4: 6 – 7).
If you’re concerned about not knowing what to say when questioned about God or your faith, remember, He promises to enable us to be bold in such circumstances (Matthew 10: 16 – 20). Likewise, if your desire is to deepen your walk with Him (both through and despite your unanswered questions), start by talking to Him for a few moments, a minute or five today – He hears.
Heartfelt Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for everything You are, including the truth that You are a mystery. When I don’t understand Your ways, help me to remember Your unchanging character, and continue to seek You. Help me to rest in the assurance that You are Sovereign regardless of your mysteriousness. I ask these mercies in Your Son’s – Jesus’ name. Amen.
