Oh, The Depths of God

March 10th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Romans 11:33-34 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?

In his Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul set out to expound upon the righteousness of God, for that is the theme of the epistle (cf. 1:16-17). From the revelation that man is spiritually depraved (1:19—3:20) to the disclosure that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone (chapters 3-11.), Paul has exposed man’s problem (sin) and offered God’s solution (faith). From the doctrine of predestination to the issue of accountability for unbelief in Christ, Paul reveals a paradox in man’s mind that is perfectly clear and just to God. Also, from the revelation of God’s promises to Israel being upheld, in spite of their near total rejection of Christ, to the revelation of the mystery of God that all Israel will be saved after Gentile salvation is completed, Paul’s theology is grand. Now, having completed his exposition in chapters 1-11, he looks back at all that he has explained and worships God by reflecting on some of His communicable attributes.

In v. 33 Paul says, “O the depth… of God” with conviction and emotion. The “depth” of God speaks of that which is “profound”—the profoundness of the “riches,” or infinite resources, of the “wisdom, and knowledge of God.” The judgments of God are both “unsearchable” and “unfathomable”—synonymous Greek terms that mean “impossible to find or understand even after careful examination or investigation.” So, although God’s judgments and ways are often attacked and mocked by man, no human is able to properly judge God. For God is eternal and unseen, wholly holy; in comparison, man is little more than a creature from the dirt (Gen. 2:7).

Paul then asks, “Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?”—a quote from Isaiah 40:13. The word for “counselor” in the Greek text (sumboulos) refers to one who gives advice. Question is, how might a finite creature from the dirt advise the eternal God, the very Being that created them? Truly, who is man to question or talk back to God? (cf. 9:20). If God’s ways cannot be fully understood by man, then man has no grounds to question or oppose God for anything that happens to him or others. Perhaps we should remember that very truth in our prayers when we lecture God about His supposed unfairness to us or others?

The good news concerning our understanding of God’s ways is that we are given the privilege of reading and studying Scripture—the very mind of God, in order that we might acquire some understanding of God’s ways. After all, all that is necessary “for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” is found in Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). Though Scripture does not contain all of who God is, it does lead to readers being made “adequate [and] equipped for every good work” (v. 17). It is therefore worth our while to read and study the Book God gave us in order that we might understand Him so that we might worship Him.

Food For Thought
Note that once Paul finished talking about the heavy doctrines in Romans 1-11, he worshiped God. He didn’t complain about God being unfair or demand a sit-down in the afterlife to challenge God concerning His supposedly unfair and unjust ways. Sadly, many today believe that God is going to listen to them complain about how unfair their lives were after they die. Believing themselves to be victims, these folks are truly waiting for God to apologize to them. But there will be no apologies from the Almighty who makes no mistakes. Let us therefore repent of our sins and agree with God that He is Lord and King! His ways are unsearchable, and His judgments are completely just. We are in the wrong, sinful from the womb. Let us praise and glorify our holy and awesome God, not question Him.