“But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:7 ESV
Reflection: who can know the heart and the will of God?
For anyone who has ever bought a full suit, you know the difficulty in getting the right size of jacket and pants, the right fit, fabric, pattern and color. And of course, the pants always must be hemmed. The whole process of first finding something close, then perhaps a few tailored changes to jacket and pants, might take at least a week before you have your new suit ready to wear. How about all of this in about 2 hrs, including tailoring? Impossible, right?
On a recent travel, my son was in need of a new suit jacket before an important presentation. We were out of town, across the country in a completely new place. And in the hurry of getting ready for travel, my son realized upon arrival that he had pack the wrong jacket. It was Saturday afternoon, and the meeting was following Monday. After a brief discussion, we felt something pressing on us to just go look for jacket, even if it was a long shot so close to the meeting. After looking at a discount store which had nothing, we were directed by them to a suit store. After finding this, a nice lady met us. Turns out we were the only ones in the store. And within 30 minutes, she pulled out a full suit that was absolutely perfect. Size, fit, color, etc.., for both jacket and pants. But, being Saturday evening, what about hemming the pants? She goes, “I’ll do it myself. Come back in 45min and it will be ready”. We did, and it was perfectly done. Honestly, I was shocked, but we absolutely could feel the Holy Spirit leading us there. The whole thing was so out of the ordinary, so beautifully orchestrated, that it had to be the hand of God.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 2, Paul discusses the hidden wisdom of God. He starts by saying “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 ESV. Why? Remember Paul, previously a Pharisee, had an enormous knowledge of the scriptures. Why not convince them with all his knowledge and wisdom? He says “and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 ESV. Paul needed to remove himself, so that the power of God could have room, could be at work.
He continues “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 ESV. We know from history, the most precious and sought after commodity is wisdom; especially spiritual wisdom. This is what people worshipping the devil seek after and try to practice. But God’s wisdom is hidden from the world. Paul says “these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV
We knew it at the time, that it was God’s will, His heart that my son was to look good for his meeting. How? Because His spirit led us to this store and to what followed, to reveal God’s heart. So we gave then, and give now, all the glory to Him who so wonderfully arranged it all. The hidden wisdom of God, revealed through His spirit in all who believe, and follow Christ. As Paul ends the chapter with, ““For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV. This is not wisdom in the eyes of the world. Let’s seek what the Spirit of God says, and never underestimate what God can and will do, even in practical matters.