Trusting God’s Infinite Wisdom

Articles

Philip C. Strong
11/21/23 - Discipleship

The concept of God’s “infinite” wisdom implies “without limits,” meaning that the only limits upon what God knows would have to self-imposed, if existent at all. For instance, relative to the ‘Tower of Babel,’ Gen.11:5 reads, “And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.” Could the omniscient God not “see” as clearly from heaven? He absolutely could, if He chose to do so! Thus I conclude that God knows anything and everything He chooses to know without ANY other limitations. Indeed, He is the God who is able to “see” and “…declare the end from the beginning…” Isa.46:10.

Therefore:

God knows us better than we know ourselves. Psa.139:1-4, “O Lord, Thou hast searched and known me. Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar. Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, Thou dost know it all.” We ‘think’ we know ourselves, but He knows us even better. We can be “deluded” by others or ourselves (Jas.1:22); God cannot be so deceived. This is especially important for us to understand and accept because…
God knows what is best for us better than we know ourselves. Stop. Let that sink in; repeat it to yourself if necessary to really process and accept it. Read it again just to be sure: God knows what is best for us better than we know ourselves. This is why would we should ALWAYS include “Thy will be done, not mine” in all our prayers (in which we’ve listed everything “we” want), Matt.6:10ff. This is why we should EVER endeavor to “learn” and do “what is pleasing to the Lord” rather ourselves, Eph.5:10. This is why we should FIRST seek the counsel and wisdom contained His Word, 1Cor.1:20ff, and accept and follow it above all else, Rom.3:4.

Since God knows “infinitely more” than we do, knows “us” better than we know ourselves, and knows what it is “best for us” better than we do, we should NEVER:

Desire anything God’s word forbids;
Say (or think), “This is better for me” when it contradicts God’s word; or,
Do something other than what God’s word specifies.

Such is truly “trusting in God’s infinite wisdom.” Look, “divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and excellence,” 2Pet.1:3. While I don’t think this provision is necessarily limited to the revealed wisdom of the Scriptures (it would surely also embrace the provisions of Christ’s sacrifice and continual intercession on our behalf, for instance), it certainly includes them! Thus, God has given us everything we ‘need to know’ from His wisdom to be pleasing to and in fellowship with Him both now and in eternity. Are there things we might “want to know” but don’t “need to know”? Of course, as Deut.29:29 indicates. Trust the infinite wisdom of God regarding these things. If we “need to know,” He has revealed it. If it’s not revealed as specifically as you’d like, trust the infinite wisdom of God that sufficient information has been revealed for you to make the right judgments.

Now for the BIG question: Do YOU trust God’s infinite wisdom enough to defer and submit to it… even if it’s not what YOU think is best, or what YOU want or want to do? Consider carefully and personally, please.