The Incomprehensibility of God
One aspect of theology that I have been thinking about again lately is the idea of the incomprehensibility of God. There are many places in the Bible where this notion is found. For example, Ephesians 3:19 speaks of the love of God that surpasses knowledge, Philippians 4:7 speaks of the peace of God that transcends understanding, Isaiah 55:9 states that as far as the heavens are higher than the earth, so God’s ways are higher than our ways, and Romans 11:33 makes mention of the unsearchable judgments of God. The point is not that God is completely incomprehensible, since he has revealed himself to us. Rather, it is to underline that we need to come to terms with our creatureliness and the fact that there will be times we simply do not understand God. This point should neither surprise nor discourage us. Instead, from one perspective, this should lead to greater worship. The fact that God is so much greater than we are, and yet made himself so lowly in his incarnation and death, should elicit not only wonder and awe, but also incredible worship. Perhaps we need to be reminded that we do not need to know how something works in order to derive comfort or respond in faith and worship. In the light of this, let us worship God, precisely because his ways are higher than ours, because his judgments are unsearchable, and because his peace and love surpass knowledge. In short, let us worship, because God is far greater than we are.
Indeed, as the Scripture testifies, the incomprehensibility of God is a logical projection (and progression) on the creator-created order as the Creator is categorically superior than what is created. Then, instead of becoming frustrated as we reach the limit of our intellectual capacity of comprehension (as many of us have experienced), let us marvel at the awesomeness of the seas, at the intricacies of the human body, at the beauty of a sunset, and most of all, at Jesus Christ – the wonder of wonders and beauty of beauties. And then, let us worship God in humility and in obedience, as not only as His creatures, but as His people.