Sufficient to Live

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”—Deuteronomy 29:29

There are many mysteries of the universe that God has chosen not to reveal to us, as He so wonderfully reminded Job (Job 38:1-41:34). We can debate endlessly on some of them, but we will get nowhere, because God has kept the “secret things” to Himself. He did not tell us how He fashioned the universe or how He created the world. He didn’t tell us about the vast array of galaxies filling our cosmos. He didn’t tell us how He created everything out of nothing, nor did He tell us how and why creatures came into being. And He did not reveal to us some of the lesser known mysteries such as Solomon ponderings, “Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin”—Proverbs 30:18-19. It’s not only that we can’t figure out the nature of the universe, but we also can’t figure out the little mysteries we experience on a daily basis.

However, what God has revealed to us is sufficient for knowing how to live and conduct ourselves as Moses wrote, “but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” We need not get frustrated at not knowing life’s great mysteries, we simply must trust and do what it is He has revealed. If we continue to give into despair at not being able to fathom the secrets of the universe, we are in danger of receiving a similar rebuke to Job’s. And after hearing God’s rebuke, Job responded, “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know”—Job 42:3.

God’s ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts ours (Isaiah 58:8-9). It is in His own will and good nature to keep some things from us, while making other things known. But, what is wonderful knowing is that what He revealed to us, He did because of His immeasurable love and grace. And by this we might know, praise, and experience Him in all of His glory.

God gave His word to us for our benefit and blessing. Do you trust in it? Do you do what it says? Do you know it well enough that it directs your attitude and actions? Trust in Him and do what His word says, for His word is sufficient to enable your joy. Amen.