Day Forty-four

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God,
but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever,
that we may follow all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29)

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 29:29–30:4

Beloved, as you hold your Bible in your hands, you hold “the things revealed.” You possess all the information you can handle, right in front of you, from the omniscient mind of God. But He has so much more, so much we do not know, secret things known only to the Creator of the universe.

Secrets make us uncomfortable, don’t they? Especially if we’re not in on them. It could be enough to drive a person crazy unless the secret keeper is someone we trust. Yes, God is keeping secrets, but we can find great comfort in at least three assurances.

The secret things of God cannot be contrary to His character. His secrets are just like He is: merciful, loving, just, righteous, wonderful, and good. In His fairness, God made His requirements and judgments known; therefore, the secret things are glorious things. We need not fear His unknowns. God does not have a dark side for “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

Can you think of a time when you thought God was unjust? Do you view the situation differently now? How has the passage of time changed your perspective?

The secret things are too much for us. If He withholds information from us, it is because we cannot comprehend the information in our present form. Christ knew all things that were to come upon Him; He knew the secret things. Yes, He could see the suffering in advance, but He also could envision the ultimate glory. So “for the joy set before Him,” He endured (Heb. 12:2). Knowing our plans in advance would be too much for us. Our human vision is so desperately nearsighted, we would never be able to see the glory for the pain.

Have you been through an experience you thought you could never endure? Did walking through the valley increase or decrease your faith? Can you think of any reasons why God chose not to show you in advance what you were about to experience?

The secret things are a surprise. One day we will “know fully” even as we are “fully known” (1 Cor. 13:12). We have the ultimate surprise party coming, and God isn’t about to give it away. Until then He grants an occasional hint—like the sight of a majestic mountain that suggests, “If this is earth, what indeed must heaven be like?”

We don’t need to feel spiritually immature because of how little we understand. We can be encouraged by knowing that anything beyond us falls in the category of glorious and wonderful. Until God shares His secrets, we hold enough in our hands to keep us challenged—we hold God’s Word.

Our Savior is the Keeper of all knowledge—the Omniscient One. Whatever is beyond the pages of Scripture, beloved, is simply too wonderful for us to know.