“Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: He will not afflict.”
(Job 37:23)
God is an incomprehensible being. He may be truly known because He has revealed Himself, yet neither man nor angels can begin to comprehend His infinite being or grasp the fullness of who He is.
The heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him. He is not confined to a place, limited by dimensions, or enclosed within the boundaries that govern created existence. His immensity exceeds every measure, and His essence surpasses every conception of the human mind.
His greatness is therefore unsearchable. Men may measure great distances, describe complex theories, and even understand the physics of creation. But they cannot calculate the fullness of God. Any progress toward understanding Him only reveals more clearly how much remains beyond reach.
Because God is infinitely and incomprehensibly perfect, no name exhausts His nature, no definition encloses His being, and no collection of characteristics comprehends all that belongs to Him. Every attribute is infinitely perfect, and every perfection exists in Him without limitation, mixture, change, or defect. He is above every comparison drawn from created things.[1]
Still, this incomprehensible God is able to humble created reason without destroying it, to enlarge our wonder without causing uncertainty, and to teach us to rest in Him whose perfection surpasses all understanding.
Money can be counted, lands measured, goods inventoried, and possessions described. The value of an earthly inheritance can be estimated and spoken of in definitive terms. Yet when God gives Himself as the inheritance of His people, He gives a portion that cannot be exhausted, contained, or fully explored because the believer’s inheritance is the infinite, incomprehensible God Himself.
Contemplations:
- Adoring Your Unsearchable Greatness. You are greater than every thought or imagination I have concerning You. I may know You truly through what You have revealed, yet I can never reach the end of Your perfection. Still, my limitation magnifies the wonder of who You are. I adore You because no created mind can understand You, no description can contain You, and no inquiry can discover the extent of Your excellencies.
- Adoring Your Infinite Immensity. The heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain You, for all things exist by Your power and remain beneath Your rule. There is no place beyond Your presence and no part of creation independent of Your sustaining hand. You are infinitely greater than the world You made, and yet graciously present with those who seek You.
- Adoring the Depth of Your Perfections. Your judgments are unsearchable, and Your ways are past finding out. The more I learn of You, the more clearly I see how little I know. There is no weakness in Your strength, no uncertainty in Your wisdom, and no partiality in Your judgment. For You are the living God whose perfection exceeds every created understanding.
- Adoring You as My Inexhaustible Portion. Every earthly inheritance can be counted, measured, diminished, or lost. Yet You are an inexhaustible portion. The riches contained in having You as my God are immeasurable. I cannot reach the limit of Your goodness, exhaust Your grace, or discover the end of Your sufficiency. The more I know of You, the more I desire to know, and the more clearly I see that Your fullness can never be exhausted.
Prayer (Adoration):
Almighty God, I adore You because You are infinitely greater than every created mind can comprehend. You have revealed Yourself truly, yet no man or angel can reach the end of Your being or measure the fullness of Your perfection. Your greatness is unsearchable, and Your ways are past finding out.
I praise You for Your immensity. The heavens and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. All creation depends on You, while You depend upon nothing. You are present everywhere without being confined, and You sustain all things without weariness or change.
I adore You for the depth of Your perfections. You are excellent in power, perfect in judgment, and abundant in mercy. Every attribute in You is infinite, harmonious, and worthy of endless praise. No name exhausts Your glory, no definition encloses Your nature, and no language can declare all that belongs to You.
I adore You as the incomprehensible portion of Your people. Earthly possessions may be counted, diminished, and lost, but You can never be exhausted.
Receive my worship, humble my understanding, enlarge my wonder, and teach me to rest with reverence and joy in Your infinite perfection.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Further Scripture References:
Job 11:7; Rom. 11:33; Lam. 3:33; 1 Tim. 6:16
[1] Thomas Brooks, The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks, ed. Alexander Balloch Grosart, vol. 2 (Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert, 1866), 28-30.
