Second-Guessing God – Rom. 11:33

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Rom. 11:33, NASB)

Throughout history, mankind has tried to second-guess God. God told the generations after the flood to “be fruitful and multiply;
populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it”  (Gen 9:7b, NASB). Mankind second-guessed God when they built the tower of Babel, lest they be scattered (Gen. 11:4). Korah and his followers second-guessed God’s decision to appoint Moses (and Aaron) as the leader of the people (Num. 16). Aaron and Miriam second-guessed God’s decision to make Moses the leader of the people (Num. 12). Saul second-guessed God’s command to utterly destroy the Amalekites (1 Sam. 15).

All of these people second-guessed God’s judgment, and all were punished. The generations after the flood were indeed scattered, and their languages confused. Korah and his followers faced death. Miriam was stricken with leprosy. Saul’s line was cut off from the throne of Israel.

People still try to second-guess God. The thousands of religious groups present in the world today are a testament to that. Men have decided that God really didn’t know what He was talking about and so have chosen to ignore the clear teaching of His word. Observe Paul’s statement:  ”Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Paul made a declaration here of God’s great wisdom. He called this wisdom “unsearchable.” It is not in man to be able to completely discern God’s wisdom. Sometimes the way God has chosen will not make sense, but we can always trust God to guide us in the right way. Let us not second-guess the Almighty, lest we suffer the same fate as those of the Old Testament.

It didn’t make sense for Noah to build a boat for a flood when it had never rained. It didn’t make sense for Joshua to lead the people in marching around Jericho in order to make the walls of the city collapse. It didn’t make sense for Gideon to lead his 300 men against the 100,000+ of the Midianites. It didn’t make sense for Namaan to dip in the Jordan River seven times to be healed of leprosy. Yet they did, and in doing so were victorious. Noah was spared in the flood, Joshua was victorious at Jericho, Gideon overcame the Midianites and Namaan was cleansed. You too can be victorious simply by following God’s word.