I decided to read through What the Bible Teaches, by R.A. Torrey again. It’s a great book – you can download a free PDF here – so we’re doing a little Bible study every Thursday. The collection is here. Subscribe over there to make sure you don’t miss anything, but come back and add your voice in the Comments! >>>
I have mixed emotions about God’s omniscience. If we’re being honest.
In Chapter 7, Torrey proposes:
- God knows all things.
- God sees all things
- He knows everything about nature.
- He knows all people.
- He knows all our “deeds” and experiences.
- He knows everything we say.
- He knows all our sorrows.
- God understands our thoughts.
- God’s knowledge extends to the smallest details.
- He has always known everything that will be.
- He has always known what everyone of us would do.
- He has always known how each of us would fit into His plan.
Basically God knows everything about everything.
On the one hand, it’s a comforting thought.
God sees every injustice. He knows everything you did right that you never got credit for.
On the other hand, honestly, it’s kind of annoying.
It makes me uncomfortable that God knows my thoughts and intents. He knows my secrets. He knows things about me that I can’t even admit to myself. Part of me is so used to living in a world where appearances rule, that it makes me really uncomfortable that the Righteous Judge, before whom I will one day give an account, knows everything.
I had a really bad day a couple months ago. I mean a really bad day. I was so tired and so beat down and so out of faith that I came home and threw myself onto my bed and cried. And between sobs I asked Him to go away. I knew He wouldn’t go away, and I knew I didn’t really want Him to go away, but I was so ashamed of my weakness and my unbelief that I – somehow – didn’t want Him to see.
Part of me still wants to put on a good face for my Father and try to convince Him that I’m doing really well. Like every kid that wants her dad to be proud of her, part of me is still stuck in the way that the world measures success, and it bothers me that God sees the failure that I really am sometimes.
I think God’s omniscience may be the most humbling aspect of His character so far.
His omniscience combined with His unending love makes me so uncomfortable I don’t even want to talk about it.
I appreciate your honesty! You know I have those moments too. Times when I just shut completely up (which is not like me) and my insides just turn and turn and I don’t say a word because I already know my thoughts aren’t right so my words won’t be right. And there are times when I say ’em anyway, just to regret it later.
Just Tuesday went through one of those moments when it was hard for me to pray and I looked over and saw this blanket I have and the two words that my eyes fell on were ‘Jehovah Tsidkenu’ (The Lord our Righteousness) and ‘Jehovah M’Kaddesh’ (The Lord who Sanctifies). The Omniscience of God was present because He knew that I needed that reminder at that present time as I was overwhelmed with remorse due to my own sin which led me questioning my faith.
Indeed His all knowing knowledge is terrifying but in those moments when you feel lost and in need of comfort…and it’s difficult to even speak words , it’s nice to know that God already knows and understands all about it. And to know by our faith in Christ Jesus alone we are called Righteous…(smh)all I can say is Praise God.
Grace & Peace to you!
“…and my insides just turn and turn and I don’t say a word because I already know my thoughts aren’t right so my words won’t be right.”
Girl. Yes. I know that.
He’s terrifying and comforting at the same time. How awesome.
Another positive affect of God knowing our innermost thoughts is that we can use this knowledge to keep ourselves in check. Not that we always do 8^) we we can.
Absolutely. It seems kind of strange to ask someone else to reveal my own motivations, but He can and He will! 🙂
[…] in the sense that He sees us and knows us even at our worst. But that’s not all bad. Read her here and tell what you know! We’re up to Chapter 7 in Torrey’s What the Bible […]