Understanding God's Hidden Ways in Scripture Explained
The concept of God's hidden ways in Scripture refers to aspects of divine knowledge, will, and action that are not immediately apparent or fully comprehensible to humanity. This idea is rooted in biblical texts that describe God's wisdom as unsearchable and his judgments as secret [3, 5].
One significant aspect of God's hidden ways is his unsearchable wisdom. The prophet Jeremiah describes God's wisdom as incomparable, and the psalmist notes that God's understanding is infinite [3]. This divine wisdom is described as perfect, mighty, universal, and beyond human comprehension [3]. For instance, Job 37:16 speaks of the "wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge," and Romans 11:33 exclaims, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" [3]. This suggests that while God reveals aspects of himself, much of his wisdom remains hidden from human understanding.
The "judgments of God" can refer to the secret decisions of his will, as seen in Psalm 110:5 and 36:6 [5]. This implies that God's plans and decrees are often concealed from human perception until he chooses to reveal them. The Bible also speaks of God's foreknowledge as an attribute that humans cannot fully comprehend, highlighting the infinite nature of his knowledge [6]. Passages like Acts 2:23 and Romans 8:29 point to God's prior knowledge of events, which is part of his hidden counsel [6].
The idea of God "hedging in" a person, as mentioned in Job 3:23, illustrates a situation where an individual's path is obscured, and the reasons for their suffering or circumstances are hidden from them [1]. This can lead to a sense of bewilderment, as the individual cannot discern God's purpose in their trials. The name "Habaiah," meaning "the hiding of the Lord," further underscores the biblical recognition of God's concealed presence or actions [4].
Despite God's hidden ways, Scripture also emphasizes that God reveals himself and his purposes. This revelation is an "uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen" [2]. God has chosen to make supernatural revelations of himself and his plans in various ways and at different times, which have been committed to writing under the guidance of his Spirit [2]. The Scriptures are not merely a record of revelation but are the revelation itself in written form, ensuring the accurate preservation and propagation of truth [2].
The New Testament further develops the concept of God's "mysterious will" or "mystery." In Paul's writings, this often refers to a divine truth that was formerly hidden but is now revealed through the Gospel [7]. Ephesians 1:8-10 speaks of wisdom and understanding coming from the revelation of God's mysterious will concerning Christ, specifically how God will unite all things under Christ's authority [7]. This includes the inclusion of Gentiles alongside Jews in God's redeemed people, a truth previously hidden but now made known [7]. The ability to understand these mysteries of the Kingdom is presented as a gift from God [10].
John Gill, in his commentary on Job 12:21, notes that God "discovereth deep things out of darkness." These "deep things of God" are his own thoughts and purposes, which are otherwise wrapped in impenetrable darkness and could not be known unless he revealed them [12]. These include his thoughts of peace and good things for his people, which are made known to them, but would otherwise remain hidden [12]. Similarly, Gill interprets 1 Corinthians 2:9, stating that while God's wisdom is hidden and mysterious, God has revealed these truths to believers through his Spirit, not just through external revelation in the Scriptures but also through internal revelation [11].
The "secret of the Lord" is said to be with those who fear him [9]. This "secret" encompasses God's purposes, such as election, redemption, and calling, which are the "deep things of God" that the Spirit reveals [9]. It also includes the secret of his providences, some of which are made known to those who fear the Lord before they come to pass [9]. This suggests a distinction between God's universally hidden ways and specific revelations granted to those in a covenant relationship with him.
The wisdom of God is not only unsearchable but also the source of all true wisdom. Daniel 2:1 states that all human wisdom is derived from God, and Ezra 7:25 indicates that the wisdom of saints comes from him [3]. This implies that while God's ways are often hidden, he is the ultimate source of understanding for those who seek it. John Gill, commenting on Job 28:22, suggests that God alone understands the "way" of wisdom, including how to attain spiritual wisdom, which is his special gift [8].
Sources
- Job “Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? -- Job 3:23”
- 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”
- 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. ”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Habaiah — the hiding of the Lord”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Judgments of God — (1.) The secret decisions of God's will (Ps. 110:5; 36:6). (2.) The revelations of his will (Ex. 21:1; Deut. 6:20; Ps. 119:7-175). (3.) The infliction of punishment on the wicked (Ex. 6:6; 12:12; Ezek. 25:11; Rev. 16:7), such as is mentioned in Gen. 7; 19:24, 25; Judg. 1:6, 7; Acts 5:1-10, etc.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Foreknowledge of God — Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:29; 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:2), one of those high attributes essentially appertaining to him the full import of which we cannot comprehend. In the most absolute sense his knowledge is infinite (1 Sam. 23:9-13; Jer. 38:17-23; 42:9-22, Matt. 11:21, 23; Acts 15:18).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 1:8: 1:8-10 Wisdom and understanding come from the revelation of God’s mysterious will regarding Christ. In Paul’s writings, mysterious will (traditionally mystery) often refers to a divine truth formerly hidden but now revealed in the Good News (see 3:9). Here it refers to how God will bring everything together under the authority of Christ, so that he may be universally recognized and respected as Lord (see Phil 2:9-11; Col 1:16-20, 26-27; 2:2, 19; 4:3). Ephesians focuses specifically on the inclusion of Gentiles as well as Jews in God’s redeemed people (see Eph 3:”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 28:22: God understandeth the way thereof,.... And he only; not the way that men can come at the knowledge of wisdom, which at present appears to be past finding out; but rather the way which wisdom itself takes, and is in the deep, and its footsteps not known by any other, and the grounds and reasons of its taking such a course it does; which are only understood by the Lord: it may be applied to spiritual wisdom in men, and the way to come at it; which God only knows and instructs in, and is his special and peculiar gift; and to Christ, the wisdom of God, and the way which he ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 25:14: The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him,.... The secret of his purposes with them; as his purpose according to election; his resolution to redeem his chosen ones by his Son; his design to call them by his grace; his predestination of them to the adoption of children, and eternal life; which are the deep things of God the Spirit of God reveals; and all which are made manifest to them in effectual calling; and the secret of his providences is with them; some are made known to them that fear the Lord before they come to pass; as the destruction of Sodom and Go”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:51: 13:51 The ability to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom is a gift from God (13:10-17, 23).”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 2:9: But God hath revealed them unto us,.... Should it be said, that since this wisdom is so hidden and mysterious, the doctrines of the Gospel are so unknown, so much out of the sight and understanding of men, how come any to be acquainted with them? The answer is ready, God has made a revelation of them, not only in his word, which is common to men, nor only to his ministers, but to private Christians and believers, by his Spirit; which designs not the external revelation made in the Scriptures, though that also is by the Spirit; but the internal revelation and a”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 12:21: He discovereth deep things out of darkness,.... The deep things of God, his own deep things which lie in his heart, wrapped up in darkness impenetrable to creatures, and which could never be known unless he had discovered them; such as the thoughts of his heart, which are very deep, Psa 92:5; the deep things of God, which the Spirit of God only knows, searches, and reveals, Co1 2:10; even his thoughts of peace, and good things for his people, which are many and precious, are known to himself, and made known to them, or otherwise must have remained in darkness, and out o”