“I DON’T UNDERSTAND?”

Matthew 11:2-12; 14:1-13

For me to say I understand so I can convey to you how to understand - well that would be a misunderstanding. Why? The bible Says,

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches (wealth) both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable (not searched out) [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Depth: bath-os (899): extent

Ways: ho-dos (3598): progress, means, mode or road

Past finding out: an-ex-ikh-nee'-as-to (421): not traced out, untraceable, unsearchable

However, I do understand some things that you can understand that will help us understand that we don’t have to understand. Do you understand?

Job, who had been extremely and abundantly blessed by God, was suddenly, forcibly and without warning, struck with the decimation of virtually all he possessed, responded with an almost incomprehensible loving and virtuous faith:

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Verse 15. Though he slay me I have no dependence but God; I trust in him alone. Should he even destroy my life by this affliction, yet will I hope that when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. In the common printed Hebrew text we have lo ayachel, I will NOT hope;

One translator renders the verse similar to this: (I rendered it in the contemporary vernacular) Lo, there is nether comfort nor hope for me, if he will slay me. Adapted Adam Clarke’s Commentary

This reminds me of those famous works of Simon Peter,

Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Job went on to say:

Job 19:25-27 For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth: And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body], yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me.

Paul Said,

Ro 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Da 3:17-18 If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

“There are basically two responses to what God is doing in the light of eternity - Trusting Faith or Unbelieving Rejection.” Dennis Deese

In the midst of those things we don’t understand, there are some things about God that we can understand and be assured of that will allay our fears and questions. You need to know that:

Pr 21:1 The king’s heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

I. HE’S SOVEREIGN

(Unmitigated Control, supreme power) Consequently He’s in control and won’t give to or share with no one or no thing his control.

Yahweh - “The Self-Existent One”

Colossians 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Romans 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Job 9:12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

II. HE’S PREEMINENT

(Eminent above or before others; superior; surpassing:)

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.

Romans 9:20-21 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Psalms 99:2 The LORD [is] great in Zion; and he [is] high above all the people.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

III. HE’S RIGHT

(Right means free from error or correct in opinion or judgment;)

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Psalms 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, [are] thy wonderful works [which] thou hast done, and thy thoughts [which are] to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: [if] I would declare and speak [of them], they are more than can be numbered.

Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.

IV. HE’S OMNISCIENT

(Having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things.)

John 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

Psalms 147:5 Great [is] our Lord, and of great power: his understanding [is] infinite.

Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding.

Isaiah 40:14 With whom took he counsel, and [who] instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

Isaiah 45:9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.

Psalms 2:2-4 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Proverbs 21:30 [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.