What I Don’t Know – Part 3

Continuing with “what I don’t know”…

5. The secret, hidden things of nature and the world around me:

“There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not un­derstand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden. This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong ’ ” (Prov. 30:18-20).

A supersonic jet may leave a vapor trail behind it, but an eagle soaring through the sky leaves nothing behind. A snake may leave a trail in the sand, but none on the rock. Likewise, a ship on the sea leaves no trail behind it after it has sailed past.

A man seducing a maid leaves no evidence behind (or at least, he hopes he does not). And an adulterous woman is careful to hide her deeds.

I cannot know any of these comings and goings, unless I see it with my own eyes, or have other firsthand knowledge. But I do know that God sees all these things (He is “El Roi” — “the God who sees”: Gen. 16:13). He sees, He keeps a perfect record, and He judges rightly. One day, everything I need to know will be revealed to me. In the meanwhile, I can safely entrust everything I do not need to know… to the All-seeing, All-wise Judge. Thus I take comfort in what I can know, and also in what I need not know.

6. What will happen to “the other fellow”: 

“Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them… When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ ” (John 21:20,21).

After the special post-resurrection meal at the Sea of Galilee, Peter follows after his Lord as they walk along the shore (v. 19). But for a moment at least, he turns back (v. 20). It is then he sees “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, John, “following them”. It is only after Peter sees John that he asks Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”

The first and most obvious lesson is this: if we will keep our eyes upon our Lord, we will have much less occasion to be distracted by what others do, or don’t do.

Jesus had just told Peter something of the future, suggesting his death would be a difficult one — but one in which he would give a great testimony to the Lord whom he served. It is at just this point that Peter turns (is he thinking of going back? who can say?) and sees John. Having just been confronted with a painful trial in his own path, Peter — quite naturally — wonders, ‘What about this man John? How will he die?’

His question can sound very much like: ‘Lord, am I to be singled out, alone, for suffering?’

Which in turns sounds very much like: ‘Lord, I must protest! Is it fair for me to suffer so, when other disciples will not?’

Such a question as Peter asked — and the other, unspoken questions implied in it — ought not to be asked. There are certain things one does not need to know. Thus Jesus answered Peter:

“If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me” (v. 22).

When we place ourselves in the Lord’s hands, we must not question what hap­pens to us. Shall the clay say to the potter, ‘Why have you made me so?’ (cp. Rom. 9:20,21; Jer. 18:3-6). The hallmark of a true disciple is spending little if any time judging the actions, or evaluating or questioning the fates, of his fellow-believ­ers: “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?” (Rom. 14:4; cf. 1 Cor. 4:5). Rather, the best way for a believer to spend his time is in doing what his Master has told him to do!

The One to whom we may safely entrust our ultimate fate will surely do right by us in the interim — even if we don’t know why He chooses one thing for us, and something else for others. Even if we don’t know why intense and prolonged suffering is the lot of one disciple, while another enjoys many blessings with seemingly no real difficulties in life.

What I do know is… what my Lord chooses for me will be right!

There are many “things I don’t know”. The cure for any concerns or anxieties about present things (and future things), that I don’t know, is found in Christ’s words to Peter: “Follow me!” The sheep does not know everything the shepherd knows, but he follows the shepherd because he does know that the shepherd is his friend and his protector. ‘My Lord is my shepherd!… Surely I will dwell in his house forever!’

That is enough to know.

7. The things Job did not understand:

The things Job did not understand (Job 42:3), brought out under the strong argument of Elihu and the intense questioning of the Almighty, are things I do not understand either:

“Who can understand how [Yahweh] spreads out the clouds, how he thun­ders from his pavilion?” (Job 36:29).

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you under­stand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone — while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7).

“Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings? Surely you know, for you were already born!” (Job 38:16-21).

I can truly know, and understand, none of these things — for they happened long before I was born, or well out of my circle of observation and “control” (If indeed I have any control over anything). But here again, I can trust that God organized, directed, and controlled these things (and continues to do so) well, and suitably, and that He did not need (and does not need) my advice or help!

I can go to sleep at night, knowing that the foundations of the earth stand sure. And even if they do not, from my limited perspective, then that which will be shaken will only be removed temporarily, to give way to a surer eternal founda­tion, on which His Kingdom will be built (Heb. 12:26,27; cf. Psa. 102:26,27)! And that, when that day comes, He will remember me.

I can go to sleep at night, knowing that He keeps the gates of death and darkness. I need not fear. And even if those gates swing open to take me away while I sleep, I know that there is One who holds the keys of death and the grave (Rev. 1:18), and “What he opens no one can shut” (Rev. 3:7).

How many secrets of the universe would I trade for that knowledge?