Romans 11: 33
- Nathan Davies
- Nov 3, 2023
- 6 min read
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out!”
Romans 11: 33
This is the start of what is often titled “Doxology”, a passage of praise declaring the glory and wonder of God. The 4 verses included in this passage, v33-36, really are just that. The first verse really sets the tone for the verses that follow. What strikes me about this, as I sit down to meditate on it today, is how Paul describes the wisdom and knowledge of God as riches with unimaginable depth.
When we think about deep places we think about the ocean, and how we cannot simply go to the bottom, the riches of God’ wisdom and knowledge are deeper than that. The Greek work here speaks of extremes, there is a sense to which we can never exhaust this depth.
When we think about riches we may think of images like Scrooge McDuck, or maybe Smaug sitting on his hoard. The people we may have a negative impression of, but the riches themselves shine and sparkle and draw the eye. We can see them as positive. Paul is using this language of riches and wealth to show that God’s wisdom and knowledge are desirable and something to be sought after.
This means that for us, as we study, as we pray, as we seek to draw closer to God and to know Him more, we can never run out of things to learn, things to know, we can never get to the point where we can say “I’ve completed my knowledge of God”, or “I’ve grasped all the God knows and understands”. You see, in this first verse of the doxology Paul is showing us how completely other than us God really is, and how that should drive us to praise.
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out!”
Romans 11: 33
In this poem (11: 33 - 36) Paul seems to be summarising something of his belief about who God is and what He is like. In this he also includes a brief reflection on who humanity is in relation to God, verses 34-35. This opening verse is a statement of truth about the knowledge and wisdom of God. Paul is telling us, in clear terms, that we cannot grasp the wisdom of God, it is beyond us.
When we let this sink into our understanding of God, our understanding of the world, and the things that happen to us and around us it can be freeing. I’m not saying it’s easy, I’m not saying I can manage this. I am saying that it helps to know that God has a plan that is beyond my understanding. Knowing this, fully accepting this, leads to trust. The more I meditate on this, the more I let this form part of my understanding of who God is and what He is like, the more I live in the good of who God is, and the more I live in the freedom of trusting in God.
“Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!”
Romans 11: 33
In reading this it is important that we look back at what Paul has written prior to this doxology. Reading all of chapter 11 will provide some extra context and understanding to this passage.
The key part of this is that God chooses to show mercy to the Gentiles and to Israel. Paul, through chapter 11, is speaking clearly to the Gentiles, warning them not to boast that they are included, particularly not to boast in themselves, or in the fact that others have turned away. Paul is keen to press home the point that it is God’s mercy, shown because of His wisdom, it is God’s grace poured out in full knowledge of who He is dealing with that has saved them. This is true for us. It is not our work that saves us, it is God’s mercy and grace.
There is, across this chapter, a sense of Paul speaking of the sovereignty of God, of God choosing who He will choose, and hardening the hearts of others. But, it seems, from verses 28 - 32 that this is all so that God may show mercy on all.
“Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths are beyond tracing out!”
Romans 11: 33
I love to look at maps. Sometimes I look at them to plan a route, maybe a run, a ride, or hike. I can imagine the terrain, I can picture the route in my mind. I start to look forward to some parts and perhaps even dread others. Sometimes I will get a map out with no need to plan anything, just to look over it and enjoy the contours or how different places connect with one another. I can trace out routes between places, it’s interesting to see how and why pockets of population may have emerged where they are. Maps speak to me of place, of belonging, of history, and past and future adventures.
Here, at the end of this verse, Paul is saying that God’s ways are not like a map. We cannot simply reach up to the self, take down the map and trace out the route. Sometimes I wish we could, I wish I could see what the next stops along the route are, where the next aid station or village is, where the next rest point might be. But, Paul says, God’s paths are not like that. If you are anything like me you may find both peace and frustration in that.
When I look back over my life, when I trace out the paths already taken I realise that I am living in the good of what God is doing, but perhaps if I’d traced the route out ahead of time I may not have embarked on every adventure. I may have traced the path, discovered a hard bit and stopped tracing the route. Then I’d most likely have stayed put. None of us want the hardships that spring up, or the struggles that we encounter. This, perhaps, is why we cannot trace out the paths of God, and why we must trust in His wisdom and knowledge.
“Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths are beyond tracing out!”
Romans 11: 33
What Paul is saying here is something we all need to learn, and can all find difficult to admit and live with. Paul is saying God is unsearchable, we cannot fully know, cannot fully understand, and cannot fully discern what God is doing, or what His plan is. God’s ways are so much beyond our own, beyond our understanding (Isaiah 55: 8-9).
This can be hard to live with, especially when we feel like life is full of challenges. In those moments we can come to God with our plan, with our understanding and view of things, but our perspective does not see the overall picture. Our perspective is limited by the space and time we occupy. God’s view is beyond such confines, He is not limited by space and time and as such He sees a fuller picture than we ever could.
In those moments of challenge and trouble we need to see the freedom that Paul is offering us here. If we acknowledge that God is unsearchable, that we cannot possibly know the whole plan, but that we trust that He is in control, that He does have a plan and that plan is about His victory and His glory then we can come to a place of trust and dependence even in our uncertainty. When we trust we find ourselves able to walk the path that God is laying before us.
“Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths are beyond tracing out!”
Romans 11: 33
This is really Paul’s summary on the question of God’s sovereignty and humanity’s free will. I don’t think it can be put any better.
If we pause to reflect on this we see that Paul talks about God knowing, not necessarily ordaining all. This means that while God knows all that is happening and will happen, while we can be assured that God works all things together for good (Romans 8: 28), we can also see that the free will of humanity leads to outcomes that are not inline with who God is, but that this is the pain of free will. God, in his wisdom and with full knowledge gives humanity this choice. He knows the beginning from the end, and along the way there is pain, not given by God, but certainly known by Him.
There is mystery in this, after all God’s “paths are beyond tracing out”. Personally, I find the mystery reassuring and not. But, then this is what we witness in many of the Psalms, and prayer, while reflecting on this character of God, often leads us from the place of frustration to the place of trust, and from disappointment to dependence.
This, I think, is perhaps what Paul is alluding to with his careful choice of words here, and the paths of God, if we follow them will lead us to a greater depth of relationship with Him.
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