Chapter 18—Mysteries of the Bible
“Canst thou by searching find out God?”
No finite mind can fully comprehend the character or the works
of the Infinite One. We cannot by searching find out God. To minds
the strongest and most highly cultured, as well as to the weakest and
most ignorant, that holy Being must remain clothed in mystery. But
though “clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and
judgment are the foundation of His throne.”
Psalm 97:2
, R.V. We can
so far comprehend His dealing with us as to discern boundless mercy
united to infinite power. We can understand as much of His purposes
as we are capable of comprehending; beyond this we may still trust
the hand that is omnipotent, the heart that is full of love.
The word of God, like the character of its Author, presents myster-
ies that can never be fully comprehended by finite beings. But God
has given in the Scriptures sufficient evidence of their divine authority.
His own existence, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are
established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony
is abundant. True, He has not removed the possibility of doubt; faith
must rest upon evidence, not demonstration; those who wish to doubt
have opportunity; but those who desire to know the truth find ample
ground for faith.
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We have no reason to doubt God’s word because we cannot un-
derstand the mysteries of His providence. In the natural world we
are constantly surrounded with wonders beyond our comprehension.
Should we then be surprised to find in the spiritual world also myster-
ies that we cannot fathom? The difficulty lies solely in the weakness
and narrowness of the human mind.
The mysteries of the Bible, so far from being an argument against
it, are among the strongest evidences of its divine inspiration. If it
contained no account of God but that which we could comprehend; if
His greatness and majesty could be grasped by finite minds, then the
Bible would not, as now, bear the unmistakable evidences of divinity.
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