Curiosity to the glory of God

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

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
~ Proverb 25:2

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
~ Romans 11:33-36

Curiosity, a desire to know (Merriam-Webster), is part of human nature. We want to know many things. But how we use it? Can we know all? So often we are frustrated because so strong the desire to know something but we just can’t know it, things range from ‘does he likes me’ till ‘why does God created Adam and allow him to sin in the garden of Eden, having already knew he will sins?’

1.       Curiosity is good.

a.       We being image of God, like God, posses intellectual ability. (Col 3:10 ‘knowledge’)

b.      Jesus invited us to search, means to investigate, and that implies curiosity. (John 20:27)

c.       It is our glory to be able to search through things. (Pro 25:2)

2.       Limits of curiosity

a.       God did not tell us everything. (Deut 29:29)

b.      We just can’t fathom God’s depth of wisdom. (Romans 11:33-36; Isa 55:8-9)

c.       Human mind is a created, limited, corrupted mind. (Isa 40-43)

3.       Possible answer to questions prompted by our curiosity

a.       God had provided answer in the bible.

b.      Bible doesn’t make it explicit, but could draw conclusion or implies by what is obvious. (e.g. Triune nature of God; Divine and human nature of Christ; etc)

                                                               i.      Questions pertain to history and science could be search through study of archeology and scientific methods.

                                                             ii.      But no guarantee of success!

c.       Bible does not tell us, nor can search through by means of scientific method, but we will know when we see Him face to face. (1 Cor 13:12) e.g. when did God created angels? How wide is the universe? How would we really look like in resurrected body?

d.      Remain mystery even till then. God is God, man is man. We won’t become god when we enter heaven!

4.       Purpose of curiosity

a.       Curiosity is not given for the sake of curiosity itself, neither is it given to make us feel dumb or frustrated.

b.      Reflection: is the feeling of frustration come from lack of trust of wisdom of God? Or human arrogant that think we ought to know everything, and God should tell us everything? (possibly influenced by the so-called ‘right to know’?)

c.       To see the transcendence of God and produce humility in us, which ultimately bring us to our knees and give Him the glory that due Him. (Job 38-42:6)

5.       Right use of curiosity

a.       To search through the scripture to know what God wants us to know in order to obey. (Deut 29:29b; 2 Ti 3:16-17)

                                                               i.      Theology – knowing God

                                                             ii.      Spirituality or piety – honoring and trusting God

                                                            iii.      Holy life – obeying God’s commandment

b.      To search through the world to discover how intelligently, meaningfully and wonderfully God had created the universe, so that

                                                               i.      We can work through or rule the world in a God-honoring way (Gen 1:26,28; 2:19-20a)

                                                             ii.      So to amaze at His creation and bring Him praise (Psalms 8:3-4)

c.       To search through the works and words of God and be amaze at the things that which we don’t know, so to produce greater humble-ness in us. (Job 38-42:6)

6.       Conclusion

a.       God gives us curiosity to motivate us (actually, He invited us) to search through His words and work.

b.      Hence we should be diligent in understanding His words and works.

c.       The purpose is not to know all thing (which is a impossibility) but

                                                               i.      To glorify Him by knowing how wonderful and marvelous His deeds (Psalms 19:1-6)

                                                             ii.      To enjoy Him

1.       by knowing and obeying His commandments (Psalms 19:7-14)

2.       by making good use of the natural law He created

d.      For the things that we cannot search through or understand, let us admit our limits and marvel at His transcendence wisdom.

e.      Let us not be frustrated, but learn to come before Him in prayer and be content with what He given us now. (Psalms 107:9)