Unfathomable

"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." (Job 5: 9; 9: 10 NIV)

"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave—what can you know?" (Job 11: 7, 8 NIV)

"Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." (Psalm 145: 3 NIV)

Lord God is indescribable and his works unfathomable and inexpressible. Lord God is incomprehensible. If God could be comprehended by creatures, then he would not be God. God is greater than his creatures are able to imagine or express. There are no limits to the perfections of God. They are all "infinite," like his "understanding." (Psalm 147: 5 KJV) God's "greatness" and "supremacy" in all things is everywhere confessed in holy scripture. God has no superiors and he has no limits.

Creatures are capable of understanding God, but not comprehending him. God may be apprehended by the mind of faith, but he cannot be fully known by any creature. Only God fully knows himself. What "may be known of God" (Romans 1: 19) is only a "part of his ways," not a comprehensive knowledge.

"And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"" (Job 26: 14 NIV)

"Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?" (KJV)

In this chapter of Job, deep and mysterious things about God are mentioned. Yet, when Job finishes listing these wonderful things, he exclaims that he has "not even scratched the surface," so to speak, in relating all there is to know about God. If one adds up all that has been revealed to us about God, and compares it to all that may be known of him, then it will be easily discovered how far short does creature knowledge fall in regards to comprehending God. Truly, not even half has been told or known. "These are but parts of his ways"! So much more is there to God than we know!

"And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard." (I Kings 10: 6, 7 KJV)

This is what every student of God and his works often confesses. The more one learns about God, the more he realizes how little he knows, for God is so great. God exceeds in greatness above all that we are able to imagine. The greatest theologians and bible students have only picked up a few sand pebbles of divine knowledge when there are yet endless and innumerable grains yet undiscovered.

"Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?" (Psalm 106: 1, 2 KJV)

Who can fully utter all there is to know of God and his works? Who can completely "show forth" the fulness of God's glory? What we do know is glorious and awesome. It is but a smattering of knowledge that creatures have regarding him. Man is limited. He is finite. But, God is infinite. How impossible then for any creature to comprehend God. God is "inexpressible." His nature, perfections, and works cannot be made known in mere words.

"Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it." (Psalm 139: 6 KJV)

"Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not." (Job 42: 3 KJV)

We cannot exaggerate when it comes to speaking of God's greatness. He is greater than all expressions of him found in scripture or on the tongues of creatures. Job is here confessing that God is incomprehensible, that his greatness is beyond the ability of finite creatures to fathom. So, in a Christian's knowledge of God, he is often heard to confess how the more he seems to know of God, the more he comes to realize how much there is to know. No wonder the great apostle exclaimed -

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" (Romans 11: 33, 34 NIV)

Man is limited in his ability to know God. God is "unsearchable" and "beyond finding out" (KJV). He cannot be comprehended. Also, Lord God is not discoverable by ordinary efforts at knowledge, but knowledge of him requires a "revelation" made by the Spirit of God to a creature. The "mind" of God! The infinite thoughts of Deity! Who can say he fully understands God and his workings in creation and providence?

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." (I Peter 1: 8 KJV)

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." (II Corinthians 9: 15 KJV)

There are things about God that are "indescribable" or "inexpressible." The joy of the Christian, in his revealed knowledge of God, is not something that can fully be put into words. Words are limited in their ability to reveal and convey a comprehensive knowledge of God. The "gift" of salvation is also that which is not capable of being fully spoken, being his "unspeakable" gift.

"How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (II Corinthians 12: 4 KJV)

"Unspeakable" is from the Greek word "arrētos" and means that which is "unspeakable on account of its sacredness." By "not lawful" is meant "not capable," for it is against the limits of man's ability to comprehend or fathom God. There are things about Lord God that are simply "words too sacred to be uttered."

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (Romans 8: 26 NIV)

Not only is the joy and gift of salvation beyond our ability to express in words, but also the inner life of the Christian is a phenomenon that cannot be fathomed or comprehended. Oftentimes the prayer life of the Christian is one where he speaks in groans and moans, and which express more to God than mere words.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3: 11 NIV)

Man thinks he can fathom the Almighty! They falsely imagine that they can know him by their own efforts at discovery. Yet, the truth is, that God remains vastly superior to all our imaginations.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." (Isaiah 40: 28 NIV)

Friend, do you know how lofty and high is God? Do you realize how little you really know of him? If you would come to know God, to apprehend him, then you must come to him in faith and ask that he reveal himself to you. He will surely hear you and give to you joy inexpressible and full of glory, his "unspeakable gift" of salvation, and will show you things that amaze and dazzle the mind. Do you know how great is God?