The Mystery of God’s Ways
Scripture — Isaiah 55:8-9 (NRSV)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says 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.
Focus
Through Isaiah God says to us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.” Though God has been clearly revealed to us in Scripture and in Jesus Christ, there is still much about God that is mysterious. Sometimes God’s mysterious ways perplex and distress us. Sometimes they lead not to exasperation but exaltation.
Devotion
When I was a teenager, I wanted to figure out God. I thought that if I worked hard enough and was completely logical, then everything about God would ultimately make sense to me. In retrospect, I think my desire to know God was laudable, but my expectations were naïve. I didn’t take into consideration my own limitations as a human being and God’s unlimited nature. Nor did I account for how sin gets in the way of our knowing God.
Over time, I have come to realize that, although there are many things we can know about God because they have been revealed to us, our understanding has limits. The Lord made this clear in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.”
God’s ways are often mysterious. Sometimes they are gloriously mysterious. Sometimes they are frustratingly mysterious. For example, when God allows the innocent to suffer, when God fails to act in ways that would seem to highlight God’s own glory, and when God appears to say “no” to our fervent prayers, we struggle to accept God’s inscrutability. It’s not just that we can’t understand God’s ways. Part of us doesn’t like them!
Yet, the greatest mystery of God’s nature leads us not to exasperation but to exaltation. I’m talking about the wonder of God’s grace, God’s limitless mercy, and unfathomable love. The more we reflect upon the mind-blowing goodness of God, the more we’ll echo the words of Paul in Romans 11:33: “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” For Paul, as for us, the mystery of God’s grace leads to astonished praise.
Reflect
How do you feel when you can’t figure out God?
What about God do you find hardest to understand?
When have you felt overwhelmed by the wonder of God’s grace?
Act
Talk with a wise friend or your small group about how you respond when God’s ways are both mysterious and unsettling.
Pray
Gracious God, first of all, we want to thank you for making yourself known to us. Your revelation, in history, in Scripture, in Jesus Christ, and in our hearts, is a priceless gift. How blessed we are to know you, to serve you, and to love you!
Yet we accept the limitations of our knowledge. There is so much about you that we will never understand, at least not this side of Heaven. Your ways are higher than ours, so much higher! As you know, Lord, sometimes this is distressing to us, especially when it seems like your love and justice are taking a nap. Help us to trust you, even when your ways are frustratingly different from what we would expect and desire.
The most amazing thing about you, Lord, the most mysterious thing to us, is your love. Sure, we can say that you love us. But now and then, we are blown away by the depth of your love. The Creator of the universe loves us, each of us, personally! What a wonder! Hallelujah! Amen.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: God’s Character Is to Have Mercy on Everyone (Romans 9–11).
Mark D. Roberts
Senior Strategist
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders,...