Is Job 36:26 saying we can never exhaust the knowledge of God?
Question:
I would like to get your opinion to see if I am interpreting the Bible correctly on this one passage.
Job 36:26
American Standard Version:
Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.
Stated this way I believe it is telling me that God is greater than we can know and an example of that would be the number of his years are unsearchable.
King James Bible:
Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
When stated this way with the neither placed as a qualifier then I believe it can be interpreted this way. God's greatness can no more be exhausted any more than the number of his years can be searched out.
Are my interpretations correct? Can you elaborate on this any more? This is one of my favorite passages because I believe it is telling me that God's greatness is forever inexhaustible coupled with John 17:3 I believe that we can throughout all eternity come to know more and more about God in a relationship that never ends. This makes me fall down to my knees and praise the Lord.
Answer:
I believe your understanding is correct. I like how Adam Clarke described this verse:
"God is great: He is omnipotent.
We know him not: He is unsearchable.
Neither can the number of his years be searched out: He is eternal.
These three propositions are an ample foundation for endless disquisition. As to paraphrase and comment, they need none in this place; they are too profound, comprehensive, and sublime."
There are many passages that describe God's wisdom as being beyond our comprehension. "Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite" (Psalms 147:5).
"For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption -- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD"" (1 Corinthians 1:19-31).
Which makes it interesting when people say things like "Well, I know God will accept this" without consulting what God has said on the matter.
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! "For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?" "Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?" For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen" (Romans 11:33-36).
