Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Jeremiah certainly had some unique encounters with God. Here he is a prisoner, as described in detail in the previous chapter, but God speaks to him anyway, just as Paul and many others have had intimate times with their Creator when in physically very difficult circumstances. God begins His remarks to Jeremiah by reminding him of just who He is, as recorded in verse 2. We sometimes forget with Whom we are dealing. The more science discovers about the universe, the more we should be rejoicing that the One who created all of that cares about us individually, marveling at the magnitude of His power and grace. With that established, God issues a challenge to Jeremiah, and through him, to us. Human beings tend to have a thirst for knowledge. That can get us into real trouble, as when Eve and then Adam chose to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, rather than obeying God and trusting Him to settle all such matters. Seeking to know more about the universe that God created is not at all a bad thing, but the highest knowledge is of God Himself. Proverbs nails it when it says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) As the Lord had already told Jeremiah, “Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.” (Jeremiah 9:24) With all of that as background, God very graciously says that He wants to tell us things that will blow our minds. Human pride doesn’t want to admit that anything is “unsearchable” by man, but the fact remains that many things fall into that category. The things God tells Jeremiah after this, dealing with extreme destruction and then glorious restoration, were certainly beyond his imagination. The destruction was probably fairly predictable, but the restoration was absolutely miraculous. Since the Holy Spirit has been poured out, He sometimes gives believers what Paul called a “word of knowledge,” (1 Corinthians 12:8) providing information that hasn’t been logically perceived. That’s distinct from prophecy, but is closely related. It’s not something we can demand, and it is not something to be used for selfish ends, but here God is offering it for blessing, to build up believers and advance His kingdom. If we are active in seeking to serve God, we will ask Him for whatever knowledge we need to do His will.

I have experienced the gift of supernatural knowledge a few times, but my wife seems to operate in that area a bit more, looking at people and knowing things about them she couldn’t possibly know apart from God’s grace. That has freaked more than one person out, but we have both experienced it bringing people to repentance. It is never to be taken lightly or to be presumed upon, much less bragged about. I am to keep my focus on knowing God, asking Him to show me whatever I need to know to be fully useful to Him, but not demanding frivolous knowledge. I’ve already got more than enough trivia in my brain! The people saying it to Hosea weren’t sincere, but I need to “press in to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3) in truth, placing that knowledge above every other, so that I won’t be deceived by pride.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the mind You’ve given me, and for making me a “knowledge junkie.” May I indeed keep all of that in perspective, knowing that nothing can compare to knowing You. Thank You for opening Yourself up to me, far more than I could ever deserve or even imagine. May my response be as You desire, accomplishing Your will for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!