Articles
Amazing Plan, Awesome God!
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out” (Romans 11:33)!
This is Paul’s grand conclusion to the first section of the Roman letter. He has demonstrated how man, by God’s providence, can proceed from the roll call of the damned to the blessed state of righteousness (Romans5:1, 2). Paul marvels at how God has so worked in the history men and nations so that he could offer such a wonderful gift to Jews and Gentiles.
The apostle has three subjects of admiration – the riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God. Paul admires the depth of these three- “depth” meaning vast, incomprehensible, or unfathomable. Words cannot express nor can one fully comprehend the riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God!
Riches denotes God’s abundant blessings and mercy. The pardon of sin, the gift of Christ, and hope of heaven are vast and wonderful! That God would offer such great gifts to one as wretched as me is unimaginable. Such incites the praise of Paul.
Wisdom acknowledges the method God chose to accomplish his mission. Certainly, man was not wise enough to devise his own plan. By a cross which seems so weak and foolish, God confounded all the experts (1 Cor. 1:18-25)! When all of this is contemplated and history is traced Paul greatly esteems the wisdom of God who fulfilled his mission!
Knowledge has foreknowledge in mind. God so worked in the history of man to bring the Savior into the world at just the right time (Hebrews 9:26). By his wisdom the whole world heard the gospel in 30 years (Col. 1:6, 23)! God worked in the lives of men and rulers of nations and overcame every obstacle to make his grace available (Tit.2:11-16).
Indeed, how unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! Certainly, no man can counsel the Lord. He is left to do nothing, but to stand in awe and humbly submit to God’s wishes!
