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Limits of Human Knowledge and Trust in God

Human understanding is inherently limited when attempting to grasp the full nature and wisdom of God. The biblical book of Job poses the question, "Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?" [1]. This rhetorical question highlights the incomprehensibility of God's being and actions to finite human minds [8]. The wisdom of God is described as perfect, mighty, universal, infinite, and unsearchable, existing beyond human comprehension [6].

The Bible consistently presents God's knowledge as absolute and infinite. For instance, God's foreknowledge, a high attribute, is beyond human comprehension, encompassing all things past, present, and future [2]. Passages like 1 Samuel 23:9-13 and Acts 15:18 illustrate this boundless knowledge [2]. In contrast, human knowledge, even at its most developed, cannot be compared to God's [3].

This limitation extends to spiritual matters. The "natural man" is unable to comprehend the things of the Spirit of God, finding them foolish, because such knowledge is spiritually discerned [4]. John Gill, in his commentary on Proverbs 24:6, notes that wisdom is "too high for a fool," meaning it is beyond his reach, particularly spiritual wisdom or the knowledge of divine things [9]. This suggests that a spiritual capacity is required to apprehend divine truths.

The concept of divine wisdom is sometimes personified in scripture, as seen in Job 28:12-27 and Proverbs 8:23, 27, which some interpret as referring to Jesus Christ as the embodiment of this wisdom [10]. This divine wisdom is the origin and sustainer of the world's order, yet it remains unfathomable and unpurchasable by humanity [10]. The only aspect of this wisdom that relates to and can be understood by humanity is revealed in Job 28:28 [10].

Despite these limitations, humans are called to seek knowledge of God's will. Calvin emphasizes that God's will is to be sought only in His word, setting aside human inventions and speculations that contradict it [12]. This pursuit of divine knowledge is not merely intellectual but also practical, leading to obedience. Adam Clarke notes that true saving knowledge of God is evidenced by keeping His commandments, loving God and neighbor, and being free from the power of sin [13]. Those who claim knowledge but remain in unholy habits do not truly know God [13].

The recognition of human limitations in understanding God should foster humility and trust. The Tyndale House commentary on Psalm 119:96 suggests that even human perfection has its limits, and humans cannot fully understand God's ways [7]. Similarly, a lack of faith can stem from a failure to grasp one's value to God and the extent of His providential care [11]. This underscores the importance of trusting in God's wisdom and care, even when His ways are not fully comprehensible. God's knowledge extends to detecting hypocrisy, as seen in Isaiah 29:15-16 and Matthew 22:18, indicating that outward appearances do not deceive Him [5]. This divine omniscience reinforces the call for genuine faith and obedience rather than superficial displays.

Sources

  1. Job “Job 11:7 (BSB) — Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?”
  2. 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).”
  3. Job “Job 22:2 (DRC) — Can man be compared with God, even though he were of perfect knowledge?”
  4. I Corinthians “I Corinthians 2:14 (BBE) — For the natural man is not able to take in the things of the Spirit of God: for they seem foolish to him, and he is not able to have knowledge of them, because such knowledge comes only through the Spirit.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hypocrites — God knows and detects -- Isa 29:15,16. Christ knew and detected -- Mt 22:18. God has no pleasure in -- Isa 9:17. Shall not come before God -- Job 13:16. Described as Wilfully blind. -- Mt 23:17,19,26. Vile. -- Isa 32:6. Self-righteous. -- Isa 65:5; Lu 18:11. Covetous. -- Eze 33:31; 2Pe 2:3. Ostentatious. -- Mt 5:2,5,16; 23:5. Censorious. -- Mt 7:3-5; Lu 13:14,15. Regarding tradition more than the word of God. -- Mt 15:1-3. Exact in minor, but neglecting important duties. -- Mt 23:23,24. Having but a form of godliness. -- 2Ti 3:5. Seeking only outward pur”
  6. 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. ”
  7. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 119:96: 119:96 Even perfection has its limits: Humans cannot fully understand God’s ways (see Eccl 3:11).”
  8. Job (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Job 11:7: Zophar here speaks very good things concerning God and his greatness and glory, concerning man and his vanity and folly: these two compared together, and duly considered, will have a powerful influence upon our submission to all the dispensations of the divine Providence. I. See here what God is, and let him be adored. 1. He is an incomprehensible Being, infinite and immense, whose nature and perfections our finite understandings cannot possibly form any adequate conceptions of, and whose counsels and actings we cannot therefore, without the greatest presumption, pas”
  9. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 24:6: Wisdom is too high for a fool,.... It is out of his reach, he cannot attain it; natural wisdom, or the knowledge of many things in nature; at least it seems so to himself, and therefore will not take any pains, or make use of any means, to obtain it; as the knowledge of human laws; of medicine, of philosophy, of languages, or of any of the liberal arts and sciences; or he has not really a capacity for it. This is more especially true of spiritual wisdom, or of the knowledge of divine things in a spiritual way; or of the things Of the Spirit of God, which a natural m”
  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. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:30: 6:30 Little faith results from the failure to understand one’s value to God and the extent of God’s providential protection.”
  12. 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”
  13. 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 2:3: And hereby we do know that we know him - If we keep the commandments of God, loving him with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves, we have the fullest proof that we have the true saving knowledge of God and his Christ. The Gnostics pretended to much knowledge, but their knowledge left them in possession of all their bad passions and unholy habits; they, therefore, gave no proof that they had known either God or his Son Jesus - nor is any man properly acquainted with God, who is still under the power of his sins.”
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