A Framework For Understanding (Part Three)

This week we are considering a helpful framework of ideas that can help us in understanding and appreciating the scriptures. Monday we considered a high view of scripture, then yesterday we added an attitude of dependence on the Spirit and an expectancy that we can, in fact, understand the Bible.

We close today with a final helpful thought… that the Bible presents to us:

A God Bigger Than My Ability To Understand

This, too, must be balanced, however. The reality that the Bible has been given for our understanding does not mean that we will always understand all of it.

• “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa.55:8-9)

The idea is that there will always be a level of complexity, even mystery, that we cannot assume that we will always perfectly understand. Francis Schaeffer wrote:

“It is helpful… to distinguish between true communication and exhaustive communication. What we claim as Christians is that when all of the facts are taken into consideration, the Bible gives us true knowledge although not exhaustive knowledge.” He adds: “… we can have confidence that this is true history, but that does not mean that the situation is exhaustively revealed or that all our questions are answered.”

God is simply too big for that—but rather than being troubled by that, I find comfort in it. I am constantly reminded how big life is and how small I am. The thought that I have a God who is greater than my comprehension is a wonderful thing, because for all the things in life for which I am not enough—He is! “The secret things belong to the Lord our God…” (Deut.29:29) It is not nearly as important that I know those things, as it is that I know that He knows those thing.

What is the outcome? We could return again to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 to see what the scriptures are intended to supply:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Or, we could be reminded that (Romans 15:4) that these things have been written for our instruction that we might have hope.

Most of all, however, I think we want to see Him.

• That we might grow I the grace and knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
• That we might have our passion to know Him burn in our hearts (Phil.3:10)
• That we might be able to walk in Him (Col.2:6-7), rooted and grounded in the faith—as we have been instructed.

It is not about accumulating information or data or facts. It is about finding ourselves driven to the Christ who alone is able to meet the deepest, eternal, and most profound needs of our hearts.