Question
where in the Bible does it mention about God’s omniscience? specific verses would be appreciated. I realized that the word ‘omniscience’ is not used in the bible.
Answer
o, you are right. This word is not in the Bible, although the concept is. As we looks at the nature of God revealed in the Bible, it is clear that He is the ultimate Power, Wisdom and Knowledge behind the Universe. To claim to understand completely the character of God, would be a vain affirmation.
ROM 11:33 ¶ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
ROM 11:34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?
ROM 11:35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?
ROM 11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Although God is all-powerful, He chooses to use His power in various ways. For example, in the past, He used His power to perform various miracles to confirm the word that was spoken by men. However, today, we have the confirmed word to lead us to believe, rather than the miracles. Although God is powerful enough to do these, He does not choose to do them in the same way today. See Heb. 2:1-4, 1 Cor. 13:8-13, John 20:30-31.
In the same way, God, although He has the ability to know all things and to even know all things beforehand, does not use this ability. Several passages in the Bible indicate that God, for reasons that He alone knows, chooses not to know certain things ahead of time. Then, when the appropriate time comes for Him to discover and act in the situation, then He does. Here are just a couple of examples of what I mean.
Concerning the wickedness of the people of Sodom and the surrounding cities of the plains, we are told that God, although He could have known the nature and results of their sin, tells Abraham that He is going down to see if they have committed such sins. Then, after He goes down, He will know if their condition is as bad as it is.
GEN 18:20 And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.
GEN 18:21 “I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
After commanding Abraham to sacrifice his only son, the angel of the Lord stops Abraham from doing so. The reason He gives is, now God knows that Abraham fears Him and is not willing to withhold anything, including his son from Him.
GEN 22:10 And Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
GEN 22:11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”And he said, “Here I am.”
GEN 22:12 And he said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
In other words, I am saying that yes, God knows all that He needs to know in order to allow men and women to make free choices as to how they will react to Him. Then, based on their choices and His discovery of them He is able to make whatever decisions are necessary for the accomplishment of His purpose in the world.
By Gary Hunt
