Mysteries and Trust

Before doing this Bible study, please read the introduction in the 1-minute devotion Can Your Trust in God Be Tested? 


There are elements of our faith which are difficult to fully understand. They are mysteries--things that our finite minds cannot fully grasp. For example, the Trinity. There are also some Scripture passages that are difficult to fully understand.

But this shouldn't concern us. It's a proof that God is infinite and we are finite. If we fully understood God, that would put him on our level.

1. God warns us that we won't understand everything.

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

1 Corinthians 13:12: "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 

I love these verses and often think of them when I wish I knew why things happen as they do. Obviously, God doesn't think it is good, important, or necessary for us to know everything. God has reasons for keeping things "secret" from us, and His reasons are always for our good. Think of the many things we keep "secret" from our children because they are unable to handle the truths they contain until they become adults.

From Asbury Bible Commentary: "Just as the speech, the thoughts, and the reasoning of childhood are abandoned when one reaches adulthood, so the partial and indirect knowledge of the present will give way to full and intimate knowledge of God in the coming age (vv. 11-12). Spiritual gifts, which now mediate the life of God to the community, will no longer be necessary when I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (v. 12)."

2. What insights do the following verses give us for dealing with difficult passages?

James 1:5: "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." 

John 16:13: "When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."

The first step when confused about a Scripture passage is to ask God for wisdom.  

After praying, I recommend that you:
↪ Meditate on the passage (i.e. read through it several times thoughtfully and prayerfully). 
↪ Get out a concordance and study some of the words in the passage. Compare how the same words are used in other passages to give you a fuller idea of their meaning. 
↪ Next, use a good commentary...actually use several commentaries if you can. Don't take one man's word for what is written. Look mostly for background information and Greek meaning of the words. Don't use commentaries written to promote a certain agenda. You don't want to base your conclusions on man's opinion alone. But we can learn from those who have studied the Bible in-depth.

3. What assurance does this passage give?

2 Peter 1:3: "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."


To supplement this study, check out these 1-minute Bible Love Notes:
Jeremiah 29:13﹘A Wonderful Promise 
An Authority We Can Trust 

copyright 2013, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated 2020

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