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Discerning God's Guidance from Human Desires and Biases

Discerning God's guidance from human desires and biases is a central challenge in Christian life, requiring careful attention to God's revealed will and an awareness of human limitations. The Bible consistently presents God as the ultimate source of wisdom, whose ways are perfect and unsearchable [5]. Humans, however, are prone to error, self-deception, and a limited understanding of divine purposes [1, 2].

The pursuit of God's will is a recurring theme in Scripture. Ecclesiastes describes the effort to "search and find out wisdom by all things that are done under the heaven," acknowledging this as a "sore travail" given by God to humble humanity [1]. The author also speaks of the heart's desire "to knowe and to enquire and to search wisedome, and reason" [2]. This search is not merely for abstract knowledge but for practical guidance, as believers are exhorted to "learn what is pleasing to the Lord" [3]. Seeking God involves seeking His name, word, face, strength, and commandments, among other things [6].

A key aspect of discerning God's will involves recognizing that His wisdom is distinct from human understanding. Job 28 questions whether humanity can discover the divine wisdom by which the world is governed, concluding that it is beyond human comprehension [10]. John Gill, commenting on Job 11:7, notes that while the existence of God can be inferred from creation, His nature and perfections cannot be fully discovered by human search [12]. This highlights the need for divine revelation, which is an "uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen" [7]. The Scriptures are considered the written form of this revelation, preserving and propagating truth [7].

Human desires and biases can significantly obscure divine guidance. The Bible warns against "double-mindedness" and "halting between two opinions," emphasizing the need for decisive commitment to God [4]. The prophet Jeremiah advises people to "stand ye in the ways, and see," urging them to consult the Scriptures as a "way mark" to direct their path rather than being blindly led [15]. Matthew Henry, commenting on Exodus, notes that "the way of man is not in himself," and while humans may devise their ways, "it is God that directs his steps" [13]. This underscores the idea that human plans must ultimately yield to divine direction.

The blinding effect of sin is a major factor in humanity's difficulty in finding God's will. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on Acts 17:27 suggests that the difficulty in finding God outside of revealed religion is not due to His distance, but "in our distance from Him through the blinding effect of sin" [8]. This implies that personal sin and unredeemed desires can distort one's perception of God's leading.

To counter human biases, believers are encouraged to seek the "knowledge of the divine will," which, according to Calvin, "is not to be sought anywhere else than in his word" [9]. This means setting aside "all inventions of men, and all speculations that are at variance with the word of God" [9]. The Tyndale House Commentary on Exodus 33:13 notes that Moses desired not merely God's blessings but to "know God’s nature and character, as well as the manner of and reasons for his actions," indicating a deeper pursuit of understanding God Himself as the foundation for discerning His will [11].

Adam Clarke, in his commentary on 1 John 4:6, distinguishes between those who have "truly spiritual discernment" and acknowledge doctrine from God, and those who follow teachings that "savor of the flesh, lay on no restraints, prescribe no cross-bearing, and leave every one in full possession of his heart's lusts" [14]. This highlights that genuine discernment often involves a willingness to embrace challenging truths and self-denial, which stands in contrast to guidance that caters to human desires.

Sources

  1. Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 1:13 (Geneva1599) — And I haue giuen mine heart to search and finde out wisdome by all things that are done vnder the heauen: (this sore trauaile hath GOD giuen to the sonnes of men, to humble them thereby)”
  2. Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 7:27 (Geneva1599) — I haue compassed about, both I and mine heart to knowe and to enquire and to search wisedome, and reason, and to knowe the wickednesse of follie, and the foolishnesse of madnesse,”
  3. Ephesians “Ephesians 5:10 (NASB) — trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Decision — Necessary to the service of God -- Lu 9:62. Exhortations to -- Jos 24:14,15. Exhibited in Seeking God with the heart. -- 2Ch 15:12. Keeping the commandments of God. -- Ne 10:29. Being on the Lord's side. -- Ex 32:26. Following God fully. -- Nu 14:24; 32:12; Jos 14:8. Serving God. -- Isa 56:6. Loving God perfectly. -- De 6:5. Blessedness of. -- Jos 1:7. Opposed to A divided service. -- Mt 6:24. Double-mindedness. -- Jas 1:8. Halting between two opinions. -- 1Ki 18:21. Turning to the right or left. -- De 5:32. Not setting the heart aright. -- Ps 78:8,37. Exe”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Wisdom of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- 1Sa 2:3; Job 9:4. Described as Perfect. -- Job 36:4; 37:16. Mighty. -- Job 36:5. Universal. -- Job 28:24; Da 2:22; Ac 15:18. Infinite. -- Ps 147:5; Ro 11:33. Unsearchable. -- Isa 40:28; Ro 11:33. Wonderful. -- Ps 139:6. Beyond human comprehension. -- Ps 139:6. Incomparable. -- Isa 44:7; Jer 10:7. Underived. -- Job 21:22; Isa 40:14. The gospel contains treasures of -- 1Co 2:7. Wisdom of saints is derived from -- Ezr 7:25. All human wisdom derived from -- Da 2:1. Saints ascribe to him -- Da 2:20. Exhibited in His works. ”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Seeking God — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7. Includes seeking His Name. -- Ps 83:16. His word. -- Isa 34:16. His face. -- Ps 27:8; 105:4. His strength. -- 1Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4. His commandments. -- 1Ch 28:8; Mal 2:7. His precepts. -- Ps 119:45,94. His kingdom. -- Mt 6:33; Lu 12:31. His righteousness. -- Mt 6:33. Christ. -- Mal 3:1; Lu 2:15,16. Honour which comes from him. -- Joh 5:44. Justification by Christ. -- Ga 2:16,17. The city which God has prepared. -- Heb 11:10,16; 13:14. By prayer -- Job 8:5; Da 9:3. In his house -- De 12:5; Ps 27:4. Should be Immediate. -- H”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
  8. Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 17:27: That they should seek the Lord--That is the high end of all these arrangements of Divine Power, Wisdom, and Love. if haply they might feel after him--as men groping their way in the dark. and find him--a lively picture of the murky atmosphere of Natural Religion. though he be not far from every one of us--The difficulty of finding God outside the pale of revealed religion lies not in His distance from us, but in our distance from Him through the blinding effect of sin.”
  9. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 25.2: be a hinderance in the way of their cheerfully making progress, and allowing what had been begun in them to receive an additional polish. But what knowledge does he desire in their behalf? The knowledge of the divine will , by which expression he sets aside all inventions of men, and all speculations that are at variance with the word of God. For his will is not to be sought anywhere else than in his word. He adds — in all wisdom; by which he intimates that the will of God, of which he had made mention, was the onl”
  10. Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 28:12: Can man discover the Divine Wisdom by which the world is governed, as he can the treasures hidden in the earth? Certainly not. Divine Wisdom is conceived as a person (Job 28:12-27) distinct from God (Job 28:23; also in Pro 8:23, Pro 8:27). The Almighty Word, Jesus Christ, we know now, is that Wisdom. The order of the world was originated and is maintained by the breathing forth (Spirit) of Wisdom, unfathomable and unpurchasable by man. In Job 28:28, the only aspect of it, which relates to, and may be understood by, man, is stated. understanding--insigh”
  11. Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 33:13: 33:13 let me know your ways: Moses did not merely want God’s blessings; he wanted to know God’s nature and character, as well as the manner of and reasons for his actions. God’s goal of revealing himself was beginning to be realized, at least in one person. • Moses wanted God himself to accompany them, because they were the Lord’s own people.”
  12. Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 11:7: Canst thou by searching find out God?.... God is not to be found out by human search; that there is a God may be found out by inquiring into the book of nature, by considering the creatures that are made, who all proclaim some first cause or maker of them, who is God; but then it cannot be found out what God is, his nature, being, and perfections: an Heathen philosopher (i), being asked by a certain king what God was, required a day to give in his answer; when that was up he desired a second, and still went on asking more; and being demanded the reason of his dilatorines”
  13. Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 13:17: Here is, I. The choice God made of their way, Exo 13:17, Exo 13:18. He was their guide. Moses gave them direction but as he received it from the Lord. Note, The way of man is not in himself, Jer 10:23. He may devise his way, and design it; but, after all, it is God that directs his steps, Pro 16:9. Man proposes, but God disposes, and in his disposal we must acquiesce, and set ourselves to follow providence. There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was a short cut from the north of Egypt to the south of Canaan, perhaps about four or five days' journey; the ot”
  14. 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 4:6: We are of God - We, apostles, have the Spirit of God, and speak and teach by that Spirit. He that knoweth God - who has a truly spiritual discernment, heareth us - acknowledges that our doctrine is from God; that it is spiritual, and leads from earth to heaven. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth - The doctrine and teacher most prized and followed by worldly men, and by the gay, giddy, and garish multitude, are not from God; they savor of the flesh, lay on no restraints, prescribe no cross-bearing, and leave every one in full possession of his heart's lusts and easily”
  15. Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 6:16: Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see,.... These are the words of the Lord to the people, whom he would have judge for themselves, and not be blindly led by the false prophets and priests; directing them to do what men should, when they are in a place where two or more ways meet, and know not which way to take; they should make a short stop, and look to the way mark or way post, which points whither each path leads, and so accordingly proceed. Now, in religious things, the Scriptures are the way mark to direct us which way we should take: if the inquiry”
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