Great and mighty is our Lord; his wisdom cannot be measured. Psalm 147:5, GNT

 

 

When we were children, we were told by adults not to be naughty, not to use foul language and not think bad thoughts because God is omniscient. Although we did not know the full meaning of the word, we understood that it meant God knows everything we do and say. We were even told that everything you’ve ever did or said will be written in a book, and when you die, you will have to explain what was written down.

 

The word omniscient does not appear anywhere in the Bible. It is a word that people created to explain a very important characteristic of God. I referred to the Internet to find a definition of the word and found: “a state of possessing all the knowledge there is or the quality to know all”.

 

The idea that God knows everything can sometimes be frightening. Many people see God as very strict, someone who is constantly trying to catch us out at the smallest misstep. Surely, the Bible does warn us not to keep trespassing, but that is only part of the story. Yes, God does know about all we do and think.

 

But in Psalm 147 we read that his unmeasurable knowledge and his omniscience is coupled to his greatness and omnipotence. Although God knows about my wrongdoings, he is so compassionate and almighty that he can and will forgive me, as is demonstrated by Jesus when he died on the cross for us. That is what John meant when he said that even when our conscience condemns us, “we have courage in God’s presence”. God is greater than our conscience because he is all-knowing.

 

We cannot hide anything from God, and it is really not necessary to try.

 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we know that you know everything about us, and we want to thank you that as your redeemed children, we can praise you for knowing all about us. Thank you for also knowing when we are sad and worried. Amen

 

 

Ons Here is groot en magtig, sy kennis is onbegrens. Psalm 147:5, 1983-vertaling

 

 

As kinders moes ons dikwels hoor dat ons nie moet stout wees, of lelik praat, of lelike goed dink nie, want God is alwetend. Alhoewel ons nie die woord geken het nie, het ons darem verstaan dat God van alles wat jy doen of sê, weet. Ons het selfs gehoor dat alles wat ʼn mens sê of doen in ʼn groot boek geskryf word en as jy die dag doodgaan, sal jy moet gaan verduidelik oor dit alles.

 

Die woord “alwetend” kom nêrens in die Bybel voor nie, maar is ʼn woord wat geskep en veral op God van toepassing gemaak word om ʼn baie belangrike kenmerk van Hom te wys. ʼn Internet definisie sê: “die vermoë om oor alle kennis te beskik, die kwaliteit om alles te weet.”

 

ʼn Mens kan die feit dat God alles weet soms baie negatief sien. Dan word God iemand wat gedurig oor jou skouer loer om te sien of jy nie iewers ʼn misstappie begaan nie. Die Bybel waarsku ons natuurlik ernstig dat ons nie maar willens en wetens net kan aangaan om kwaad te doen nie, want dit bly natuurlik nie vir God verborge nie.

 

Wanneer ons egter na ons teksvers uit Psalm 147 kyk, word sy onbegrensde kennis, met ander woorde sy alwetendheid, gekoppel aan sy grootheid en almag. Hierdie twee lees ek altyd as baie positief. Al weet God ook van my sonde, is Hy so groot en almagtig dat Hy my kan en wil vergewe, soos wat aan die kruis deur Christus bewys is. Johannes brei op hierdie gedagte uit wanneer hy ons daarvan bewus wil maak dat al kla ons gewete ons aan oor dit wat ons verkeerd doen, God groter is as ons gewete juis omdat Hy alles weet.

 

Ons kan niks vir God wegsteek nie, maar gelukkig hoef ons ook niks vir Hom weg te steek nie.

 

Gebed: Hemelse Vader, waar ons op ʼn stadium in ons lewe dalk bang was dat U alles van ons weet, kan ons as u verloste kinders vandag dankie sê dat U juis alles van ons weet, ook van ons hartseer, ons pyne en probleme. Amen