At a recent Trinity CRC staff meeting, we looked at the doxology (a.k.a. outburst of praise) that concludes Romans 11:
Oh, the depth of the riches
— of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
— How unsearchable his judgments,
— — and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
— Or who has been his counselor?
Who has ever given to God,
— that God should repay them?
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
— To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Each of the questions posed here are incredibly profound, but it was the first question that I found particularly arresting:
“Who has known the mind of God?” It’s an impossible question!
Can I know the mind of God? Of course not! He is infinite; I am finite. He is eternal; I am temporal. He is omnipotent; I am weak. He is holy; I am a sinner. I could never comprehend what goes on in the mind of God even if I were given the opportunity to know all His thoughts and ways. He is way too big and I am way too puny.
And yet…
Can I know the mind of God? Of course I can! He reveals Himself to me through creation which manifests “God’s eternal power and divinity.” I can see God at work in His world. I see Him even more clearly in His Word which is “fully reliable in leading [me] to know God.” He reveals HIs deep and unending love for me; He reveals the things that bring Him joy and the things that break His heart, inviting me to find gladness and grief in the same places.
So…
Can I know the mind of God? At first I’m tempted to think this is a trick question. But on second thought I see it as an invitation to both view myself accurately and encounter the God who wants to be in relationship with me. Even in this impossible question, God answers with grace.
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4th Point 
I’ve been doing an interesting study on the Holy Spirit this month, and read 1 Corinthians 2 with fresh eyes yesterday. Vs 9-16 seem to indicate that the mind of Christ has been revealed to us through the Spirit, and even says at the end that “we have the mind of Christ”…this is one of those Scripture passages I’ve read dozens of times before, but never really paid attention to. I’ve typically been more focused on the “who is man that you are mindful of him” passages that firmly put us in our place as mere mortals worthy of God’s wrath…which is also true, of course. But is good to be mindful of both of those truths, and let our minds be blown by the truth of them both, together.
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Hi Monica! Great connection – thank you very much for sharing it! Love it when God surprises us with something new that’s been there the whole time. Hope you’re well – it was good seeing you again in Abbotsford a couple months ago! ~Stanley
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