God’s Four Great Attributes
Justice, Love, Wisdom, and Power

This Month We’re Examining

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!" Romans 11:33 

This is the second of a four-part series on the four attributes of God; those being love, wisdom, justice, and power.  In this article we will discuss the wisdom of God. It is not so much focused on the vastness and control of this great universe He has created, but rather on the wisdom He exercises in dealing with man.

The problem in determining what is wise is that it can only be measured by the final outcome.  Many have made what was thought to be a wise course of action at the time it was made, only to later find such course was foolish.

For us to understand the wisdom of God and his dealing with man, we must be able to see the full scope of His plan and purpose.  The question arises "Why would an all-knowing and wise God create a race of people to have them fail, suffer, and the majority of them go into eternal destruction?"  Such a short-sighted view has led many to conclude that God is a cruel being that takes delight in creating intelligent beings only to have them tortured with misery, pain, and death; or He has lost control of His creation and He has no control over a flawed and failed plan. Such a view can lead us only to believe that Satan is the victor, and he has claimed the lives of more than the majority of God's human creation. Further examination of scripture will reveal the wisdom and far-reaching depth and breath of God's plan.

When God created man and put him in the Garden of Eden, man was perfect (physically, mentally and morally upright), and upon the completion of the sixth day, God declared it "very good". (Gen. 1: 31)  Through the tempting of Satan, man (Adam) lost his standing with God along with his dominion and his right to life. (Gen. 2: 17; 3:17) But God did give Adam a glimmer of hope through a vague promise that the seed of a woman should bruise the serpent's head. (Gen. 3:15) Later God made a greater promise and sealed it with an oath. To Abraham he said "In thee and thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed". (Gen. 22:18)  So now let us look at the wisdom of God in how he will fulfill this oath-bound promise.

The whole human race was put on trial for obedience through the perfect man Adam. Once he fell from his perfection, through disobedience, all of his progeny inherited his imperfection and came under the same sentence as father Adam. The scriptures say "as of one man's disobedience sin entered and death passed upon all men". (Rom, 5:12) The wisdom in this one condemnation is so that the world would only need ONE REDEEMER.  

By holding one man responsible for the condemnation of a whole race, only one man's sin would have to be "atoned". (Rom. 5: 19) The only thing that could satisfy justice and make an atonement for the sin of Adam would be another perfect life.  We read in the book of Hebrews that Jesus was made lower than the angels that he may taste death for every man -- Adam and his progeny. (Heb. 2: 6-9) Thus the perfect man Christ Jesus gave his life as a "ransom" for Adam and in doing so redeemed all of mankind.  But God wanted more than just a race of human beings; he also wanted a DIVINE FAMILY.

Before the foundation of the world God predestined to have a family. (Eph. 1: 4,5)  This family was to be of the same nature as He is: divine immortal beings.  But before God could grant any being such status, their character would have to be tested and proven worthy of such an honor.  God in His wisdom uses this time (when evil prevails) to develop such a class, the first being Jesus Christ. (Rom. 8: 29)  It was during his life on earth that Jesus proved his unwavering faithfulness and devotion to the Father even unto death. The scriptures declare "though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. (Heb, 5: 8) Therefore God has highly exalted him and given him a name above any other name. (Phil. 2: 8-10) It is those who choose to be footstep followers of Christ (His church) that God will also grant this high station of glory, honor, and immortality. (John 1:12, Rom. 2: 7) It is only through the permission of evil that such a class can be tested and proven. It is this class that will make up the promised seed of Abraham and they will bring blessings to all of the families of the earth. (Gal. 3:9) Not only has God used this time of evil to develop an special class, He also is using this time to develop a better class of humans who will have learned through experience the devastating effect of evil.

God's wisdom, and even human wisdom, teaches us that experience is the best teacher. So for the past six thousand years God has allowed mankind to experience the effects of disobedience and the exceeding sinfulness of all and any (no matter how small) sin. He will continue to let mankind follow their downward course until they learn the futility of their efforts. God will allow mankind to continue to plummet into chaos and despair until they realizes that he they divine guidance. It is at this time of great trouble that the promised seed of Abraham -- Christ and His body (the church) will teach man righteousness and to appreciate God's laws. Mankind will want to obey. He will love and worship God not out of fear but out of appreciation for the one who gives life and blessings. The whole human race will be taught to live in harmony with each other and in harmony with God's law.(Jer. 31: 34)  This was God's wisdom when he permitted Satan to rebel. (Isa. 14: 12-14)  It is God's wisdom in putting the whole human race on trail through the perfect man Adam.  It is God's wisdom in letting evil prevail for a time in order that mankind will learn the results of sin. It is God's wisdom by providing one redeemer, the man Christ Jesus, that atonement was made for Adam and thereby securing a resurrection for Adam and all of his posterity. Wisdom foresaw that only through permitting evil could God test a class of people who would prove their faith, loyalty, and wholehearted devotion and trust in Him even unto death. Thus proving themselves worthy to be granted a place in His heavenly kingdom and worthy of glory, honor, and immortality. Oh the wisdom of God and the working of his plan.