GOD KNOWS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   God has so many qualities that cause us to be amazed and astounded.  Many of these qualities are incomprehensible to us.

1.    Eternal, no beginning and no end

2.    Omnipresent, everywhere at all times

3.    Omnipotent, even able to create things with a spoken word

 

B.   Sometimes we briefly reflect on God’s qualities, marvel for a few minutes, then put them out of our mind.

1.    We need to reflect more upon what these qualities mean for our lives.

2.    We want do to this with a one of God’s attributes this morning.  It is the quality of omniscience, that is, God is all-knowing.

 

I.             GOD IS OMINSCIENT, ALL-KNOWING

 

A.   In Job 36:4, God is described as “he that is perfect in knowledge.”

 

B.   Isaiah 40:28

 

There is no searching his understanding.

 

C.   I Timothy 1;17

 

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.

 

D.   I John 3:20

 

If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

 

II.           GOD’S KNOWLEDGE MANIFESTED IN THE PAST

 

A.   God knew about Cain’s slaying of Abel (Gen. 4:9-10).

 

And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother?  And he said, I know not:  Am I my brother’s keeper?  And he said, What hast thou done?  The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

 

B.   God knew about Hagar and Ishmael’s bleak condition in the wilderness after being cast out of Abraham’s house (Gen. 21:17).

 

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar?  Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad whence he is.

 

C.   God knew of Israel’s rebellion in the camp at Sinai when Moses was receiving the law on the mountain (Exo. 32:7-8).

 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down, for thy people which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves:  they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them:  they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

 

D.   God knew about Elijah when he fled from the death threats of Jezebel (I Kings 19:9).

 

And he came thither to a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

 

E.   He saw Stephen as he was being stoned to death (Acts 7:55-56).

 

But he being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and he said, Behold, I see the heavens open, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

 

F.   Many more examples could be set forth:

1.    God knew about Israel’s persecution in Egypt (Exo. 3:7).

2.    God knew of Jonah’s flight to Tarshish (Jon. 1:3-4).

3.    God knew of the lie told by Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:3, 9).

4.    God knew when Peter was in prison (Acts 12:6-7).

5.    God knew when Paul stood before Pilate alone (II Tim. 4:16-17).

 

III.         APPLICATION TO OUR LIVES

 

A.   God knows all that are His (II Tim. 2:19).

 

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.

 

1.    If we belong to God, He knows it.  That is comforting in a world of almost 8 billion.

2.    We are on God’s role.  We are in His mind.  We are in His care.  We are engulfed deeply in His love.

 

B.   God knows our needs (Matt. 6:31-32).

 

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?  Or, what shall we drink?  Or, where-withal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek):  for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

 

1.    Most of us get caught up in providing for the basics of life.

2.    God created us.  He knows what we need to live.

3.    If we will remain faithful and put Him first, He will provide all these things (Matt. 6:33).

 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

C.   God knows my thoughts (I Chron. 28:9).

 

The Lord searcheth the hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts.

 

1.    He knows our evil thoughts (Matt. 9:4).

2.    He knows my doubts (Matt. 14:31).

3.    He knows my stress.

4.    He knows my discouragement.

5.    He knows my lack of faith (Matt. 8:26).

6.    He knows my lack of confidence.

7.    He knows my fear (Mark 4:40).

8.    Ezekiel 11:5

 

I know the things that come into your mind every one of them.

 

D.   He knows every place we are (Ps. 139:2).

 

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising…

 

1.    He knew us when were in our mother’s womb (Ps. 139:15-16a).

2.    He knows when we engage in evil.

3.    He knows when we are in trouble.

4.    He knows when we are upon beds of affliction (Ps. 38:9).

5.    He knows when we stand before our enemies (Ps. 69:11).

6.    He knows when we are persecuted.

7.    He knows where we will be after death (Luke 23:43).

 

E.   He knows every act of devotion and service rendered to him.

1.    In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus tells us to do our alms, our prayers, and our fasting in secret.

2.    Each section ends with these words:  …and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly (Matt. 6:4, 7, 18).

 

F.   He knows when Jesus is going to come again (Matt. 24:36).

 

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, but my Father only.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   God knows.

1.    This can be a statement that strikes terror into our hearts.

2.    It can be a statement that fills with the comfort.

 

B.   When we add to this the idea that God also cares, it is even more comforting.  God knows and God cares.

1.    Where are you spiritually?  God knows and cares.

2.    What would happen to you today if you were to die?  God knows and cares.

3.    Where would you be spiritually if you were judged today?  God knows and cares.

 

C.   My friends, God knew that we could not save ourselves and cared enough to send Jesus to die in our stead.