March 27, 2011
God’s Omniscience
Last week, we talked about the omnipotence of God. This week we’ll continue to
look at some of the distinguishing characteristics of the one and only true God
that we read about in the Bible (Jer. 10:10). This week we will be talking about
the omniscience of God. Omniscient simply means all-knowing. The Latin word,
omnis means "all" and sciens means "knowing.” In other words, God is infinite
(unlimited) in His knowledge, knowing everything in the past, the present, and
the future. Therefore, “the LORD is the God of knowledge” (1 Sam. 2:3), is a
true statement. Here are some verses that pertain to the infinite knowledge of
God. “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite”
(Ps. 147:5). In Job 36:4; 37:16, there is reference to God as being “perfect in
knowledge.” The word perfect here could also be translated “complete,” “whole,”
“entire” in knowledge, referring to the omniscience of God. “For if our heart
condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” (1 Jn. 3:20).
“He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name” (Ps. 147:4). "But
the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matt. 10:30). To better
understand God’s omniscience, I would like for us to consider God’s knowledge as
it relates to the past, present, and future. When we think about God’s infinite
knowledge of the past, this is not hard for us to comprehend since God has
already observed it all and forgets nothing. However, when we consider the
omniscience of God as it relates to all present and future events, this is a
little more difficult for us to fathom. Nevertheless, the Bible is clear on God
having complete knowledge of the present and future. The next few verses
emphasize God’s infinite knowledge as it relates to the present. He knows the
needs of every person before they know and ask (Matt. 6:8). This actually would
indicate God’s knowledge of the present and future since one’s needs are both
present and future. “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on
the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3). Since the eyes of the Lord are in every
place, he has a complete knowledge our all present happenings. God is aware and
knows all present thoughts of man. In Psalm 94:11, “The LORD knows the thoughts
of man,…”…“the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the
thoughts” (1 Chron. 28:9)...“For He knows the secrets of the heart” (Ps. 44:21).
Jesus, God in the flesh (Jn. 1:1, 14), also knew present thoughts of mankind
while on earth; Matt. 9:4, 12:24; Lk. 6:8, 9:47 are a few occurrences. “The LORD
looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling
He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts
individually; He considers all their works” (Psalm 33:13-15). So the clear
teaching in scripture is that God has a complete knowledge of everything in the
present. However, the most amazing aspect of the omniscience of God is His
complete foreknowledge of the entire future of His creation. There are some
verses in the book of Isaiah that affirm God’s knowledge of the future.
“Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am
God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from
ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And
I will do all My pleasure,'” (Isa. 46:9-10). "I have declared the former things
from the beginning; They went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it.
Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. Because I knew that you were
obstinate, And your neck was an iron sinew, And your brow bronze, Even from the
beginning I have declared it to you; Before it came to pass I proclaimed it to
you, Lest you should say, 'My idol has done them, And my carved image and my
molded image have commanded them.'” (Isa. 48:3-5). God predicted this and made
it known to the people so they would not attribute it to their idols. Also in
Isaiah 42:9, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I
declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them." Of course, that is what
we see time and time again throughout the Bible. “That the word of the Lord
might be fulfilled” is a common phrase throughout scripture. Prophesies from God
find their fulfillment because only God alone knows the future. All prophecies
that are true come from God and come to pass, and any prophesies that do not
come to pass are not from God. This is God’s point in Deuteronomy 18:22, "When a
prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to
pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it
presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” Only an omniscient being can be
right about everything, including the future. The reason all of God’s prophecies
come to pass is because He has infallible foreknowledge. Consider Acts 15:17-18,
which talks about God knowing from eternity all His works. The meaning of this
verse is this—God sees everything in the future; he knows what will be
accomplished; He sees all things distinctly and clearly. David had this to say
about God, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down
and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and
my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on
my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether” (Ps. 139:1-4). Since God
is omniscient, and since the way of man is not in himself that we should direct
our own steps (Jer. 10:23), let’s “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And
lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He
shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).
Bibliography
Cottrell, Jack. The Faith Once For All. Joplin, Missouri: College Press
Publishing Company, 2002.
Geisler, Norman. Systematic Thelogy. Vol. Two. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany
House, 2003.
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