By Todd Paetznick, January 9, 2025

How much do we know about God? Given that He is infinite and created us, it is fair to assume there is a lot we do not know and may never know. Many of His ways and abilities remain a mystery, affecting our faith and our work.

Knowledge of God

Our knowledge of how everything in the universe works should be humbling, but many of us believe we can second-guess God’s decisions and what He allows to happen.  We may think we know better than God and often question His actions and intentions.  However, we are extremely limited in understanding what happens outside of the relatively short time we live on this planet and are limited to what we see and experience.   Job discovered he did not know better than God (Job, the guy in the Old Testament, not the money-earning thing we do).  God confronted Job directly.  Job was reminded of his position in the universe relative to its creator.  

We may never fully understand why things happen the way they do.  Why did we lose a big deal?  Why does a patient in our care decline in their health?  Why does a student fail to learn as expected?  Why did we lose our job?  Why do bad things happen to innocent people?  Why does our child rebel against our authority?   We have so many questions.  But like Job, we must remember who we are relative to God.  After hearing from God, Job could only respond, “I know that You can [do] all things, And that no plan is impossible for You” (Job 42:2 NASB20).

Revelation of God in the Bible

God reveals what He wants us to know about Himself. The Bible is our primary source and shows many of His mysteries. God chooses what is most essential for us to know and reveals some mysteries through people who faithfully record what He has given them. God’s revelation includes His expectations for how people live and act as beings He created. 

The Bible is primarily considered a religious document. Still, because God created people to do work, He also gave us His wisdom and practical guidance for integrating our faith and work. Rather than keeping the various aspects of our lives—personal, spiritual, familial, vocational—separate, we need to consider our lives as a whole, not individual spheres without overlap. Faith, work, and every other aspect of our lives are integrated, not separate. 

Relationship with God

Perhaps one of the greatest mysteries of God is that people have been invited to have a relationship with the creator and sustainer of the universe.  Why should He even care about people at all?  Why would He bother with people when we are so often rebellious against Him?  We tend to consider ourselves more valuable to God than we should.  People frequently believe God exists to make us happy and grant us our desires.  The image many have of God is closer to Santa Claus.    However, the Bible reveals that Jesus is our Lord.  He is not ours.  

Another of the mysteries of God is His self-sufficiency.  In other words, there is nothing that people can offer Him that He needs.  He has everything He needs and wants in Himself.  He does not need us to do anything for Him; He does not need our money, love, or worship.  We cannot add anything to God.  This may come as a surprise and shock, but the self-sufficiency of God should serve to humble us.  We offer God nothing.  And yet, He invites us to be a part of His plan for the world and to serve as His representatives.

Over the next few weeks, we will explore some of God’s other mysteries and how they relate to our faith and work.