Depths of God

Romans 11:33 - Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Not being able to attend church again I played some praise music. As I did an overwhelming feeling came over me.

I started thinking about how some believe God doesn't exist...and those who don't think that much about Him. And I felt both sad and excited at the same time. Sad that many don't get it. Elated because, at the chance I'm going to sound smug, I do get it...at least in part...because there is a depth to God we will never understand in this world. We will only catch glimpses of it.

In a flash the depth of the Word of God overwhelmed me. I don't proclaim to know a lot about the Bible, nor do I know it to the depth of others, but I know enough to make me so ever aware that the events that took place throughout the chapters from Genesis to Revelation could not just be the imagination or compilation of writings by just anyone.

There is an intricacy amidst the events, the people, the parables. I can't imagine how anyone could just decide this what they were going to write. It had to have a Divine Creator, just like the universe. The words of God Himself.

There are types and symbols all throughout the book. What only appears to be ongoing, maybe tiresome, sacrifices in the Old Testament are in actuality showing us this future redemption God had in store through Jesus and His sacrifice for us...and that's just it...the old sacrifices were ongoing where Jesus came to die once for all. A friend told me the other day she sometimes finds the Old Testament much more interesting than the new. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that. She knows Jesus and knows what He's done and understands the New Testament. But it's exciting to read the Old and be able to think, here is another type of Christ right here in this chapter. How amazing is our God.

Every article of the garments the priests wore were symbolic. Type of gems used were important, numbers, colors, type of linens. The same goes for the temple King Solomon built. It was designed by God and not one detail without meaning...from the outer walls, doors, articles used in the sacrifices right up to the articles within the outer room of the Holy of Holies and the Holy of Holies itself. It's an incredible study at the very least and absolutely awesome at most. How could anyone dream up something so intricate and interwoven? He is a God of detail, no doubt, but also a God of order. There is order to His Word.

People's names even had meanings. When they were changed, it changed their personality...like Saul the hater of Jews whose name originally meant desired, which I find rather bizarre, to Paul, meaning small or little, who became a defender of Christ. I look at the change in meaning to be that God knew what sort of change would take place to--He desired Saul, whose despicable character would be well known, to become His ally. It is said that Saul/Paul was small in stature...maybe that's why he acted like a big man in persecuting the Jews but later God would use the small stature to show the greatness of this man who would become a follower of Christ...and defend Him. God looks not at how great we think we are, but uses the foolish to confound the wise. I love it!

Simon, a fisherman whose name meant to hear or be heard, to obey, became Peter, a rock, a source of strength, a pillar of the Christ's church, Jesus' main man! I should note that Peter was no more than the leader of the apostles. He called himself a bondservant and apostle to Christ (2Peter 1:1). An interesting character with a strong, quite often overly outgoing personality, Peter became a follower, obediently telling people that Jesus was the Overseer and Shepherd of the Church (1Peter 2:25 - For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.). Again we see it's not about any man but one Man we are to look to.

Abram, Father [God] is exalted, whom God would promise to become the father of the people and cultures we are today, became Abraham: Father of many nations. His wife Sarai became Sarah, changing her from a princess to the mother of  multitudes. Names were changed to bring about promise that God would bestow. 

To have only the smallest bit of understanding of the absolute greatness of our God is daunting. I don't think we could withstand as much knowledge that He holds.

I guess I'm just curious by nature and like to know stuff, in detail. I sometimes have to know why or how. I've heard it said God is in the details and I believe it. I think He has woven details into His Word so it cannot be discredited. Oh, but we hear, and even are confronted ourselves at times, with what seem to contradictions. They aren't. I believe this by faith.

Some day all the truth will be known. In the meantime, I will continue to dig my way into types and symbols as well as just knowing who Jesus is as found in the New Testament. There's a challenge and a very simple truth...Jesus is Lord, Jesus is our Redemption...He can be found from Genesis to Revelation if you look hard enough and open your hearts to receive.

Romans 15:4 - For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.