I ran across a quote from Charles Hodge and found it quite interesting and thought-provoking. It is about God being both incomprehensible and God revealing Himself to us. It may sound like two things that cannot go together, but they actually do.
While, therefore, it is admitted not only that the infinite God is incomprehensible, and that our knowledge of Him is both partial and imperfect; that there is much in God that we do not know at all, and that what we do know, we know imperfectly; nevertheless our knowledge, as far as it goes, is true knowledge. God really is what we believe Him to be, so far as our idea of Him is determined by the revelation which He has made of Himself in His world, in the constitution of our nature, in His Word, and in the person of His Son. -Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, 1982, Volume 1, p. 338
I can’t tell you the number of times that someone has informed me of what God is like with a definition that not only is not found in Scripture but also makes no sense with a quick look at the world we live in. Everyone has an opinion about God, but it seems that very few have based these opinions on anything.
God Is Incomprehensible
A big part of the reason for this is that God is Himself incomprehensible. I can’t, out of the imaginations of my mind come up with a true and right understanding of God. I can’t comprehend God on my own. I need a revelation from Him or I will know nothing at all. That’s why Hodge ends this passage the way he does. Though God is incomprehensible, I can know God truly, as far as He has revealed Himself.
In the movie, The Count Of Monte Cristo Edmond is wrongfully in prison for quite a while before he finds out there is someone else who is also a prisoner there. This guy was completely hidden from Edmond until he mistakenly dug a hole into Edmond’s room. Now, how much would Edmond have known of him had he decided to leave, never to reveal anything more than his eyes? What if he’d never dug into his room?
Though very imperfectly, I think this illustrates something important. I can only know about God what He chooses to reveal. Now, in the movie, it is a mistake that leads him to Edmond’s room, but God has purposely revealed Himself to us through what is oftentimes called General Revelation and Special Revelation.
General Revelation
General Revelation is how God reveals Himself to us in the world He created. There is much I can know about God because of His creation of the world.
Hodge states that we can gain an understanding of God from looking at “the constitution of our nature”. We can examine ourselves and catch a glimpse of the greatness of God.
Consider a bit of this with me, won’t you?
Consider the complexity of the human body. The complexity of a single Cell is mind-boggling, and that doesn’t even discuss the different processes that go on within our bodies every second. The way an eyeball works hurts my brain to consider. The production of new skin cells is astonishing. Even the way food is broken down and turned into waste is incredible. If we look at ourselves we begin to understand the great intelligence of the One who created us.
Consider also the creativity of humans. People can be incredibly creative. Music and art is a place where we examine this creative beauty in mankind. Think about the most beautiful song you’ve ever heard. Play it for a bit in your mind.
Why are people so creative? Why are people not just seeking to survive and make more children?
Humans are image bearers of their Creator. We begin to understand a bit about the creativity of God By looking at the human race.
I have seen some simply spectacular works of art and heard beautiful music. But, let me ask a question, What artist can compare with the vast beauty of the sky, space, mountains, oceans, lakes, rivers, trees, or even the flower growing wild in our yards?
Human creativity is an image of something greater. You can say the same thing about other human characteristics. Our sense of justice, love, and mercy. Come to think of it, you see all three of those characteristics within any given hour of a parent’s life.
However, there are two problems that exist: 1) We are plagued with an inability to think and examine our own selves to find something greater. Our ability to think and to ponder things has diminished as technology has taken over our lives. 2) We are sinful creatures and because of this, we do not image forth the Creator perfectly. In other words, the image is marred enough that it can be difficult to see.
Special Revelation
Admittedly, I can know quite a lot about God from simply looking at creation. However, there are many things I cannot know without God giving me understanding in a special way.
Hodge here lists the two things that are typically called Special Revelation. God has revealed Himself in a more specific and special way in His Word and in His Son.
I can look at the trees and see that there is a glorious God out there who created all things. I can also see that I am a sinner in need of a Savior by listening to my God-given conscience. However, I cannot know how to be in good standing with God By looking at the trees. If we are going to know God more fully, or know His salvation at all then I need more than what is given in General Revelation.
Praise God that He gives more. These things would remain hidden if it weren’t for God’s grace and mercy.
We find in Jesus the full and complete revelation of God. God the Son came to Earth. Jesus is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). In Him we see God. We see God’s love and care of others. We see God’s judgment against sin. We see God’s forgiveness. We see God’s grace. In Christ, we see what God is like. And we get a first-hand account of who Jesus is from His Word.
In God’s Word, I not only get a picture of Christ, but I see the glorious salvation that He promised in Genesis 3 and worked out throughout the rest of Scripture. I see God making a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that is fulfilled in Christ that makes a way for me to be made right with God. I see Jesus living a perfect life on my behalf and dying on a cross as the punishment for my sin. I see Jesus rising from the dead and being seated at the right hand of the Father. I also see my eternal home in the New Heavens and New Earth where I will be with God forever.
Concluding Thoughts
Two things can be held on to at the same time. We are never going to know everything that there is to know about God. That doesn’t mean that we can’t know who God is. He has revealed Himself to us. He has graciously revealed Himself to us and that is good news. Praise God that He has revealed Himself to us.
R. Dwain Minor
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