Living By Faith: Embracing God's Mysterious Work Ecclesiastes 11:5 Series

Living by Faith: Embracing God's Mysterious Work Ecclesiastes 11:5

Introduction:

Today, we explore the theme of living by faith and embracing God's mysterious work, based on Ecclesiastes 11:5. This verse invites us to ponder the ways of God that are beyond our understanding and to trust in His sovereignty over all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 (NLT): "Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things."

Point 1: Recognizing the Incomprehensibility of God's Work

Ecclesiastes 11:5 uses vivid imagery to illustrate the mysterious ways of God. Just as we cannot fully grasp the path of the wind or the intricate development of a child in the womb, we are reminded of the limitations of our understanding when it comes to God's activities.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT): "‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'"

Isaiah's words reinforce the profound difference between God's wisdom and human understanding. As finite beings, we are incapable of comprehending the depth of God's plans and purposes.

Point 2: Trusting in God's Sovereignty

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

The book of Proverbs emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty, even when His ways seem mysterious to us. We are called to rely on His wisdom rather than leaning on our limited understanding.

Romans 11:33-34 (NLT): "Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?"

Paul marvels at the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge, highlighting the impossibility of fully comprehending His decisions and ways. Our response is one of humility and trust in His unfathomable wisdom.

Point 3: Embracing Faith in the Midst of Mystery

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT): "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see."

Hebrews extols the virtue of faith, which enables us to embrace God's mysterious work without seeing the full picture. Faith allows us to trust in God's goodness and faithfulness, even when circumstances seem unclear.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT): "Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely."

Paul's analogy underscores the temporary nature of our understanding compared to the clarity we will experience in eternity. Until then, we walk by faith, trusting in the One who sees the end from the beginning.

Application and Call to Action:

As we contemplate the mysterious ways of God, let us:

Surrender our limited understanding to His infinite wisdom.

Cultivate a spirit of trust and humility in acknowledging His sovereignty.

Embrace faith as the lens through which we view life's mysteries, believing in His goodness and faithfulness.

May our lives be marked by a deepening reliance on God's mysterious yet perfect plan, knowing that He works all things for our good and His glory.