Romans 11:33 "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!"

Scientists have gone down to the bottom of inland waters and even of oceans near the shore. But the great depths of the oceans remain relatively unexplored. They still contain many mysteries.

It is thus with the judgments of God. There are times when God's ways are clear and understandable to us. We realize His wisdom and His goodness. We can say with confidence: "He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3). There may be whole periods in our lives when our hearts can sing the song of the psalmist: "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance" (Psalm 16:6).

Then -- sometimes very unexpectedly -- conditions change. There may be prolonged sickness, unemployment, reverses in business, financial losses, other types of care and sorrow. Prayers seem to go unanswered. "Has God forgotten to be merciful?" We ask with the psalmist (Psalm 77:9). In such dark nights we must remember how God dealt with Mary and Joseph and with His own Son: no room in the inn; the flight into Egypt; the agony in the Garden; the torturesome death on the cross. "God spared not His own Son!" With the apostle Paul we exclaim: "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and His paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33).

PRAYER: Lord, give us grace to trust when we cannot understand. Amen.

(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)

Today's Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 17-18    Luke 20:27-47

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