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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
That’s a disturbing thought. All the more so as it occurs frequently throughout scripture. Often in the sense of prayers “unanswered” or our failure to comprehend God’s purpose and timing. (See Psalm 44:23,24) Sometimes his “hiding” having to do with punishment/discipline. (See Deuteronomy 31:17,18) At other times “testing” us, not to discover what we will do but to confirm in us his dependability as well as our ability to accomplish great things – in Him. (See Genesis 22:1; Exodus 24:20; Deuteronomy 8:16; 2 Chronicles 32:31)
My uneasiness is somewhat mitigated by Paul’s assertion that he/we have been, “…entrusted with the secret things of God.”; along with the assertion that, “…those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:1,2 But then I struggle with Jesus’ reply to his disciples’ question as to why he spoke so often in parables, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has (understanding, comprehension – and maybe more importantly openness to critical thinking) will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. That is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see, though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’” Matthew 13:11-13 Not so much because they can’t, but because they won’t; as it’s not always easily recognized or accepted. (See also Matthew 11:15)
Jesus gave a more in-depth explanation when he taught, “In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused, they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Matthew 13:14-17 Peter insisting that, “…we (now) have the word of the prophets made more certain,…” 2 Peter 1:19 (See also Acts 3:24); acknowledging the debt owed to those who had gone before, who “Concerning this salvation (which we now possess by virtue of faith in Jesus), the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched in truth and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.” 1 Peter 1:10,11 (See also Matthew 26:22,23)
Paul asserting that we Gentiles now have a place in God’s plan of salvation and responsibility to relay it to still others, as we are “…fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:20 (See also Ephesians 3:1-6) For, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son (being)… the exact representation of (God’s) being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Hebrews 1:1-3
The who, what, where, why, how and when of God are essentially revealed in Christ and His word. (The final revelation coming at His return at the end of the age, which despite present-day “prophets” and prognosticators’ attempts at pinning down, Jesus refused to do. See Acts 1:6,7; Mark 13:32) “For (now) we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears… Now we see but a poor reflection in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:9&12Because the truth is, finite beings can never fully comprehend the infinite; wisdom and humility enabling us to trust him to reveal what we need and are capable of handling at any one given moment. (See Daniel 12:8,9)
That ideal approach to God often finds it’s fullest expression in Judaism; the assumption that God alone can understand everything being much more aggressively embraced by Jewish theologians who are more comfortable with the “limits” that assumption brings. Marvin Wilson writing, “The Hebrew knew he did not have all the answers… He refused to over systematize or force harmonization on the uniqueness of God’s truth or the puzzles of the universe… It recognized that mystery and apparent contradictions (to our way of thinking) are signs of the divine.”1Athol Dickson noting, “All true explanations of God’s nature must openly involve paradoxical concepts my mind cannot grasp… If I focus on Jesus as man, I miss Jesus as God. If I focus on Jesus as God, I miss Jesus as man. Is he God or is he just a man? As with all paradoxes of the Bible, the answer is ‘yes’. And ‘yes’2 (See Is. 55:8,9)
Some “difficult” concepts found in scripture (such as John 6:60-66 & 14:6,7; Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:25) far from portraying an illogical line of thinking, rather reveal a reality at the edge of our comprehension. (See also John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Hebrews 9:22) The most fundamental question for man being: ‘Where did God come from?’ But the God of Judeo/Christian scripture operates from the viewpoint that his existence is self-evident with no need of an explanation. (Romans 9:14-32) His unapologetic majesty being utterly beyond the wildest imaginings of myth-spinning pagans and the denunciations of modern-day philosophers; at times difficult to comprehend for those he has revealed himself to.3 For that reason no created image could effectively represent His power and glory (thus it’s banning); separating Him from any and all other deities that came before or after.
In the end, the only thing left for us to do is to cling to the promise that, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Trusting him to then bless and sustain us as we follow his command to, “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Taking comfort in his assurance that, “…I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
1From Mr. Wilson’s Our Father Abraham, quoted by Lois Tverberg in Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus
2From Dickson’s The Gospel According to Moses, quoted by Tverberg in Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus
3Lois Tverberg in Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus, subtitled, How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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