“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
(Malachi 3:6)
The pursuit of knowing God is the highest calling and greatest privilege of every believer. Which is to say that theology — described by William Perkins as having “two parts: the first of God, the second of his works”[1] — is not reserved for scholars but is the duty of all who claim His name.
One way I can come to understand more of God is in the natural order of the world and its purposeful intelligent design. The human soul, with its capacity for reason and longing for meaning, bears witness to a divine origin. The distinction between right and wrong, etched into my conscience, reflects a moral lawgiver. Cause and effect, evident in every aspect of life, trace back to an uncaused cause, the single source of all existence. So one way to learn more of God is to see His fingerprints in the world around me.
God’s names offer another path to understanding His nature. In Exodus 6:2, He declares to Moses, “I am Jehovah: and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them.” Each name—Jehovah, God Almighty, I Am That I Am—reveals a facet of His character. For example, “I Am That I Am” (Exod. 3:13) proclaims His self-existent eternal essence as the source of all life (John 5:26, 14:6). As His names are windows into His being, by meditating on His names I grow in my knowledge of who He is.
Recognizing His boundless nature is yet another way I can learn more of Him. For He is not composed of parts, nor is He subject to division or change (James 1:17; Mal. 3:6). His nature is whole, undivided, and eternal, existing without beginning or end (Ps. 90:2; Rev. 1:8). He is incorporeal, invisible, and intangible (John 4:24; Col. 1:15), yet present everywhere, filling all things (1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:24). His omniscience pierces every thought and intention (1 Kings 8:39; Ps. 139:1-2), and His uniqueness stands unrivaled (Isa. 45:5). To know God is to stand in awe of His boundless nature and to trust His unchanging faithfulness.
But no matter how much I come to know of Him and about Him, God’s infinite nature ensures there is always more to discover. His unchanging attributes call me to a lifelong pursuit of knowing Him more fully as the living God who reveals Himself to His people.
Contemplations:
- The nature of God. The world around me testifies to God’s existence, from the order of creation to the stirrings of my conscience. I see His hand in the cycle of life, the moral law within me, and the purpose behind all things. And yet how often do I rush past these signs, failing to pause and worship. I must train my eyes to see God’s presence in the ordinary, letting these daily reminders deepen my reverence and trust in Him.
- God’s names and titles. Each name of God—Jehovah, God Almighty, I Am That I Am—unveils a new aspect of His character, and I am called to know Him personally through the names He has revealed, letting them guide my worship and understanding.
- God’s simplicity and infinity. God’s nature is both simple and boundless, a mystery that humbles me. He is not divided or limited, existing fully in every moment and place. This truth challenges me to let go of my small, fragmented views of Him. I must trust that His presence and power are always with me, even when my understanding fails to comprehend.
- God’s wisdom. God’s omniscience, knowing all things in one eternal act, means that nothing escapes His gaze—my thoughts, my fears, my future. I am called to rest in His wisdom, knowing that His unchanging knowledge ensures His purposes for me are perfect.
Prayer (Confession)
Lord, You are the unchanging God, eternal and all-knowing, whose nature is revealed as Jehovah, the I Am, the source of all life. I stand before You, convicted by my failure to know You as I ought. I confess that I have not sought You with the diligence You deserve. My heart has been content with shallow understanding, satisfied with glimpses of Your glory when You call me to a deeper pursuit. I have neglected the study of Your Word, the meditation on Your names, and the contemplation of Your works, choosing instead the distractions of this world.
I confess my pride, thinking I could comprehend You with my limited mind. I have reduced Your infinite nature to fit my own understanding, failing to marvel at Your simplicity and boundlessness. My thoughts have wandered, chasing trivial things while ignoring the majesty of Your unchanging character. I have not honored You as the self-existent One, the God who is life in Himself. Forgive me for treating Your attributes as concepts rather than truths that demand my worship and obedience.
My conscience bears witness to Your moral law, yet I have ignored its promptings. I see Your hand in creation, in the order and purpose of all things, yet I have failed to respond with awe. I confess that my decisions often reflect my own desires rather than trust in Your omniscience. I have doubted Your plans and questioned Your wisdom when I should rest in Your unchanging faithfulness instead. I grieve for how my sin dishonors You, the God who never changes.
Yet, Your mercy sustains me, as Malachi 3:6 declares, “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” I plead for Your forgiveness, knowing that Your steadfastness is my hope. Cleanse me from my neglect and pride. Renew my desire to know You, to study Your Word, and to seek Your face. Let Your Spirit guide me into a deeper understanding of Your names and attributes, that I may worship You rightly. Help me see Your hand in creation, to trust Your wisdom, and to live in light of Your eternal presence.
I am weak, prone to distraction and self-reliance. I confess my need for Your grace to pursue You faithfully. Transform my heart, that I may delight in knowing You above all else. Let Your unchanging nature be my anchor, Your omniscience my guide, and Your names my comfort. Forgive my failures and make me a vessel for Your glory, that my life may reflect the God I am called to know.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Malachi 3:6:
Num. 23:19, James 1:17, Lam. 3:22, Heb. 13:8.
[1] William Perkins, A Golden Chain (Cambridge: John Legat, 1600), 1.
