Revcort's Ramblings

Scripture Focus

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” — Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV)

Devotional Thought

Most of Deuteronomy 29 deals with the renewal of God’s covenant with the people of Israel. Moses reminds them of what God has done, warns them about the consequences of turning away from Him, and calls this new generation to remain faithful. But at the very end of the chapter, Moses says something that I believe can be helpful to all of us: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God.”

There are some questions I would really like God to answer. I’m guessing you have a few too. Especially when we’re walking through something painful or confusing, it’s natural to ask, Why did this happen? Why did God allow this? What is God doing? What possible purpose could there be in this?

I wouldn’t discourage anyone from asking those questions. Scripture is filled with faithful people asking God why. Read the Psalms and you’ll find David pouring out his confusion, disappointment, fear, and even frustration before God. God isn’t threatened by our questions, and I am convinced He understands the emotions behind them when we’re enduring circumstances that simply don’t make sense to us.

But there comes a point when we have to acknowledge something about ourselves: We don’t see everything God sees.

Earlier in Deuteronomy 29, Moses reminded Israel of the extraordinary things they had witnessed. They had seen what God did to Pharaoh and Egypt. They had witnessed His signs and wonders. They had experienced His provision throughout forty years in the wilderness. And yet Moses says that even after seeing all of those things, they still didn’t completely understand what God was doing.

Sometimes seeing what God does and understanding why God does it are two very different things. The same is true for us.

Our sight is limited. Our understanding is limited. We see one small piece of the story while God sees the whole thing. We see today; God sees tomorrow. We see what has been taken from us; God sees what He is accomplishing through it. We see individual pieces scattered across the table, while God sees how every piece fits into the finished mosaic. That’s why I think Moses’ words at the end of this chapter are so important.

Some things belong to God. God does have a purpose in everything He allows. Nothing that touches our lives catches Him by surprise or exists outside His sovereign knowledge and purposes. There may come a day when we look back and understand why certain things happened. There may be other questions whose answers remain hidden from us throughout this life. But until then, Moses gives us perhaps the best answer we can have:

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God.” That doesn’t mean your questions don’t matter. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cry. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t grieve. And it certainly doesn’t mean that when you’re hurting someone should simply tell you, “Just trust God,” as though trusting Him somehow makes the pain disappear.

Keep talking to God. Ask your questions. Tell Him when you don’t understand. Seek Him for comfort and peace. Ask Him for wisdom. Perhaps He will eventually allow you to understand why something happened. Sometimes, with the benefit of time, God allows us to look backward and see what He was doing in circumstances that once made no sense at all.

But He doesn’t always give us that answer. And that’s where trust begins. Trust says, “God, I don’t understand what You are doing, but I know who You are.”

There is also another half to Moses’ statement that we shouldn’t overlook: “but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” There are things God hasn’t told us. But there are many things He has. Sometimes we can become so consumed with discovering what God hasn’t revealed that we neglect what He has already made perfectly clear.

I may not know what God is doing tomorrow, but I know how He has called me to live today. I may not understand why He allowed a particular circumstance, but I know He has called me to trust Him. I may not know how everything will work out, but I know that He has called me to love Him, love others, forgive, serve, pray, pursue holiness, and faithfully follow Jesus.

The secret things belong to Him. The revealed things have been entrusted to us. So when you can’t understand what God is doing, don’t be afraid to ask Him why. Seek Him. Cry out to Him. Wait for Him. But if the answer doesn’t come, remember what you already know.

God is good. God sees what you cannot see. And God is deserving of your trust. You don’t have to know everything when you know the One who does.

Reflection Questions

1. Is there something happening in my life right now that I desperately wish God would explain?
2. Have I honestly brought my questions, confusion, and emotions before God?
3. Am I spending so much time worrying about what God hasn’t revealed that I’m neglecting something He has already clearly told me to do?
4. What truths about God’s character can I hold onto while I wait for answers that may not come immediately?

Closing Prayer

Father, there are things in my life that I simply do not understand. Sometimes I wish You would show me why certain things have happened or what You are doing through them. Help me to bring those questions honestly before You while remembering that my understanding is limited and Yours is not. Give me peace when answers don’t come and faith to trust that You see the entire picture when I can see only a small part. Help me obey what You have clearly revealed and trust You with the secret things that belong to You. Remind me that You are good, You are faithful, and You are worthy of my trust. In Jesus’ name, amen.