“Hast thou heard the secret of God? And dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?”
(Job 15:8)
In the midst of Job’s immense pain and loss, Eliphaz challenges him with a piercing question: “Hast thou heard the secret of God? And dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?” (Job 15:8). Though spoken in accusation, these words nevertheless serve as a reminder that the knowledge of God is infinitely beyond us, and that humility is required whenever we approach His mysteries.[1]
Deuteronomy 29:29 declares, “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” That is, some truths are reserved for God alone. His eternal counsels, His sovereign decrees, and His hidden purposes are His alone to know. Yet the Lord has revealed all that is necessary for life and godliness to us (2 Peter 1:3). What He has unveiled in His Word is more than sufficient to bring us to salvation, to guide us in holiness, and to strengthen us in hope.
Even the Son of God, when He taught, often veiled His wisdom in parables, revealing the hidden meaning only to those who followed Him closely and desired to learn. “Search the scriptures,” He commands in John 5:39, “for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” All of Scripture bears witness of Christ, and the Spirit opens the eyes of believers to perceive the truths that would otherwise remain concealed.
Among the secrets known only to God are the deepest recesses of the human heart. Jeremiah 17:10 proclaims, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways.” Our own motives are even often hidden from us, but never from God. Likewise, only He declares the end from the beginning: “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10), meaning the future belongs to Him alone.
Yet the Lord delights to reveal Himself to those who seek Him. “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). The Spirit who searches the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:11) imparts wisdom to believers, so that even the unlearned may grasp truths that confound the wise of this world. This fruit of wisdom is not born of human intellect but from intimate fellowship with God.
Therefore, the call to us is not to pry into the unrevealed secrets of God, but to walk in the light of what He has made known. By cultivating a life of trust, obedience, and communion with Him, we are invited into deeper understanding, not through speculation but through submission.
Contemplations:
- The Mystery of Divine Wisdom. Job 15:8 reminds me that my level of knowledge and understanding is entirely lacking compared to God’s infinite wisdom… and that all true wisdom comes from seeking to know Him. This calls me to approach life with humility, realizing that an infinite body of knowledge is reserved for God alone. And yet, by seeking His guidance, I open myself to receive some of those deeper truths and insights.
- The Hidden Depths of the Heart.1 Corinthians 2:11 affirms that only God can truly understand the depths of my heart and thoughts. Even when I’m unable to fully express my own emotions and motivations, God knows and understands them completely. This both comforts and encourages me to trust God with my innermost being, knowing that He searches my heart with perfect wisdom and love.
- Trusting God’s Sovereignty Over the Future. Isaiah 46:10 reminds me that God alone knows the future. This reality encourages me to trust in His sovereignty regardless of what happens, whether presently or in the future. And as I come to fully believe that truth, I am able to release my anxieties about what lies ahead and to rest in the assurance that His plans are perfect and His counsel will stand. Only then can I live with confidence and peace, knowing that God holds both me, and the future, in His hands.
- Walking in Intimacy with God. Proverbs 13:20 says, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise.” So what greater wisdom is there than walking with God? By prioritizing my relationship with Him, I gain insights and understanding that transcend human knowledge, for He delights in revealing His secrets to those who seek Him earnestly.
Prayer (Adoration):
O Lord God Almighty, dwelling in unapproachable light, I bow before You in reverence and awe. Yours are the secrets of eternity, hidden from the wisdom of man, yet revealed in measure to Your saints through Your Word and Spirit. I adore You as the One whose knowledge has no boundary, whose wisdom is infinite, whose counsel shall stand forever.
You have declared in Your Word that the secret things belong to You, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children. I worship You that in Your mercy You have unveiled to me the riches of salvation in Christ Jesus. I praise You that the mysteries once concealed have now been revealed in the gospel—that Christ is the wisdom of God and the power of God, the fullness of grace and truth.
I adore You that even the depths of my heart, which I cannot fully know, are open before You. You search the thoughts and intents of the heart, and nothing is hidden from Your sight. Yet though You know my sins, You have covered them in Christ. Though You know my weakness, You have strengthened me by Your Spirit. Though You know my fears, You have calmed them with Your promises.
I worship You, Lord, for declaring the end from the beginning. The rise and fall of nations, the course of history, the unfolding of tomorrow—all are in Your hands. My life rests secure in Your sovereign will, and I adore You for the peace that comes from knowing that Your counsel cannot fail.
Grant me, O Lord, a spirit of humility before Your infinite wisdom. Keep me from pride that would seek to master what You have withheld. Instead, let me rejoice in what You have revealed, and adore You for all that remains hidden in the depths of Your being. Teach me to walk daily in close fellowship with You, treasuring the light You have given, longing for the day when the veil will be lifted, and Your glory shall be fully revealed in Christ.
To You, O God of wisdom and mercy, be glory forever and ever.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further References for Job 15:8:
Jeremiah 23:18; Romans 11:34; Psalm 25:14; Matthew 11:25
[1] Arthur Jackson, Annotations upon the Five Books Immediately Following the Historical Part of the Old Testament (London: Roger Daniel, for the author .., 1658), 104.
