Behold Your God - Omniscient Series

Reading: Romans chapter 11 verses 33-36.

Ill:

Children’s Wisdom

• Patrick aged 10:

• “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”

• Michael aged 14:

• “When your dad is mad and asks you, ‘Do I look stupid?’ don't answer him.”

• Andrew aged 9:

• “Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a Polo mint”

• Joel aged 10:

• “Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a cricket bat”

• Lauren aged 9:

• “Felt tipped pens are not good to use as lipstick”

• Michael aged 14:

• “Never tell your mum her diet's not working”

• Taylia aged 11:

• “When your mum is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair”

• Armir aged 9:

• “You can't hide a piece of broccoli in your milk”

Quote:

“Socrates was said to be wise, not because he had all the answers

but because he knew how to ask the right questions”.

• This technique of learning actually has an official name:

• It is known as: The Socratic Method -

• Teaching by Asking Instead of by Telling

Note:

• In this section of the letter to the Romans:

• The apostle Paul takes a break;

• He has been teaching some heavy, heavy theology;

• Talking about God’s plan of Salvation regarding the Jewish people.

• Here in verses 33-36 he pauses and takes a break;

• These three verses are a mini poem, a hymn of praise to God.

• Having written about God’s plan of salvation;

• He has to stop and respond by praising God!

• Notice: This poem or hymn follows the Socratic Method:

• That is Teaching by Asking Instead of by Telling

• This hymn starts off with three questions;

• And finishes with three affirmations.

• And although no answer is given to the three questions;

• You can be sure that the answer to each questions is an emphatic no!

(1). Question 1: Has anyone been able to

anticipate what God is going to do?

“Who has known the mind of the Lord?”

• Paul’s words of praise in verse 34 are not original to him;

• They are borrowed from Isaiah chapter 40;

• Which like chapter 11 of Romans deals with the salvation of Israel from her sins.

• The context of the quote is that;

• Israel could not figure out or understand God’s plan of salvation;

• They were unable to how comprehend how God accomplishes His purposes:

• In response to this blankness - Isaiah would go on to say to the people;

• Some very well known verses:

Quote: Isaiah chapter 55 verse 8:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Quote: The Message:

"I don't think the way you think.

The way you work isn't the way I work."

God's Decree.

"For as the sky soars high above earth,

so the way I work surpasses the way you work,

and the way I think is beyond the way you think

Ill:

• We like boxes.

• ill: Spent Monday morning packing away stuff from ‘Boomerang’ Holiday Club.

• When tried to put everything neatly into plastic boxes,

• And then neatly label them.

• We like boxes.

• ill: We use file boxes.

• ill: We have lunch boxes.

• Ill: We use storage boxes.

• ill: We receive and mail out packages in boxes.

• ill: So much of our food is bought in boxes.

• ill: We wrap presents in boxes.

• ill: As a kid I even had a toy called “Jack in the Box.”

• Boxes give us a sense of control and organization.

• If I got it in a box, and I got it labelled,

• Then I know exactly what I got!

Many people (Christians & non-Christians) try to put God in a box.

• ill: TV Programmes – God who fits there stereo type.

• ill: Photo-fit pictures of criminals.

• Media has a Photo-fit image of God – rarely does it match the Bibles view!

• ill: Christians too create theological boxes in their mind of what God can and can’t do.

• We like to be able to know that we can predict what he might do next.

• We want him to conveniently fits into our lifestyle;

• And to approve the choices we make.

• The problem is that the God in our box;

• Bears little resemblance to the true God living outside our box!

Quote: Job chapter 11 verses 7-9:

"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens. . . They are deeper than the depths of the grave. . . Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea."