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Daily Devotion: Deuteronomy 29:29

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Deuteronomy 29:29    "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."

The one word question, "Why?" is one of the first questions learned as a toddler.  The inquisitive nature that has a hold on all of us takes us to the place where we want to know the when, where, what, and why of all things. We want to know how it works and why it works.  How many children have taken apart a toy in order to see what's on the inside and causes it do what it does.  We sometimes tend to want to do that with God also.  

We were taught not to question God concerning things that happen; yet, the first question that often comes to our minds is that same one word question, "Why?"  In today's passage of Scripture, the Lord lets us know, right to the point, there are some things we will never understand.  The past several chapters, we have seen the Lord telling the people about the blessings of obedience and the cursings (dangers) of disobedience.  Then suddenly, God says, "The secret things belong unto me."  I wonder if the human mind would not ask the question, "Why can't I do whatever I want to do?"  The heart tells us that God gave these guidelines for our own wellbeing.  Follow these commands so that it might be well with you. But the warfare continues between the mind and the heart, "But this is what I want to do."

We cannot wrap up God into a neat little package, though many have tried to do that. Sometimes we think we know and understand exactly how God will respond to a given situation. When we begin to think that way, He fools us and comes from a completely different direction.  Why can we not put Him in that box and know what He will do?  "The secret things belong unto the Lord."  There is an acceptable response given to children at times when they ask, "why?"  and that response is: "Because I am the parent and that is the rule."  God gave a set of rules and guidelines for the people. The question could possibly have been asked, "Why must we follow those rules?"  "Because I am God and I said so."  I submit that is a viable answer and worthy of our acceptance.

But there are things which have been revealed to us. I will keep this part very simple. We experience a sense of peace and joy when we do those things which we know are right in the sight of God. That has been revealed to us and is reason enough to follow the "words of this law."

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