Our Knowledge is Partial and Incomplete, but God is Omniscient

This morning, I read the story of the healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-19).  From it, I learnt the importance of trusting God and not depending on my own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding" (New Living Translation).  

Elisha instructed Naaman to go to the Jordan and wash himself so that he may be healed.  Naaman was reluctant at first, but eventually followed Elisha's instruction and received his healing.

Like Elisha, God sometimes gives us instructions that we do not understand.  According to our intellect, these instructions do not make any sense.  We expect something else, not the instruction that God has given us at that point in time, and are reluctant to do what God has instructed us to do.

Well, I have news for you…

God still expects us to trust him and carry out those instructions as Elisha expected Naaman to trust him and follow his instruction.

Why should we trust God and not depend on our own understanding?

Here are two reasons:

1.        Our knowledge is partial and incomplete
In 1 Corinthians, Paul says, "Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete… we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror," (1 Corinthians 13:9,12).  We do not have knowledge of everything.  Our knowledge is limited to our education and experiences.  But complete knowledge spans beyond our education and experiences.

2.        God is Omniscient
In Psalm 147:5, the psalmist declared, "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit." God's knowledge is perfect and eternal. He knows all things which can be known, past, present, and future. God also knows how best to attain His desired ends. We can only but trust Him to lead us to those ends.

Like Naaman, we will only see our breakthroughs when we do what God has told us to do. God knows everything that has happened and everything that will happen. He knows how things will turn out in the end.  On the other hand, we do not have knowledge of everything.  Our knowledge is limited to our education and experiences. So, let us put our trust in the Lord. Let us not depend on our own understanding. Amen