Why, God, Why? Dealing with Mystery.

Before doing this Bible study, please read the 1-minute introduction Why, God, Why?

We need to remember that we will never fully understand God because His wisdom and knowledge are infinite...without limit. And our wisdom and knowledge are finite and limited. We won't fully understand the problem of evil and suffering on this side of heaven. 

 

But we can fully and completely trust God's goodness, wisdom, holiness, and justice.

 

1. How do these passages help us deal with our unanswered questions?

Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." 

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.

2. How do these passages give us comfort in handling the mysteries of our faith?

Ephesians 3:18-20: And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Revelation 21:4: He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

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. 

When we trust God's character, we find peace and comfort even when our questions are not adequately answered. When we doubt God's character, our unanswered questions can destroy our faith. 

copyright 2013, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2022