MIF 21:5 (Oct-Dec 1989)
The Wisdom of God
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God: how unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out” (Romans 11:33).
“The wisdom of God” is a simple phrase, but it has a meaning so profound and extensive that the human mind cannot begin to comprehend its fullness. We see the evidence of it all around us, but fail to appreciate fully its importance in our daily lives.
We see the wisdom of God in the beauty and majesty of nature. We see it in the remarkable order and precision of the universe (Colossians 1:16-17). We see it in the creation of man in His likeness, with a heart and soul, and with a mind capable of choosing between good and evil. We see it in the inspiration, infallibility, inerrancy, and the preservation of the Holy Scriptures. We see His wisdom manifested through Jesus Christ “in whom are hid all the treasurers of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).
We see the supreme evidence of God’s wisdom in the plan He devised for man’s redemption. He recognized the need of man to be redeemed from his own sin and rebellion, and God’s very nature demanded that sin be judged and atoned for. But all the combined wisdom of the world could never have devised a plan whereby one Man’s sacrifice could provide the remission of sin and eternal life to all who would receive its provision.
This is the gospel that God in His wisdom provided and that Paul preached, the apostle having stated: “We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles; but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24, NIV).