The Secret Things

The secret things belong to the LORD our God,
but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever,
that we may follow all the words of this law
(Devarim / Deuteronomy 29:29).

The Torah is God's revelation. Through the Scriptures we are taught things that cannot be known or figured out by our own reasoning. God inspired the biblical writings. He communicated his knowledge, his wisdom, and his understanding of life to people, who, in turn, communicated to us through their writings.

God, through the Bible teaches us so many things. Through it we learn about God, and we learn about ourselves. At times we learn very general things and other times things very specific. While the Bible touches on a great many areas, it obviously doesn't deal with everything that could be known.

Many are often frustrated by what the Torah does not teach. Those of us that have studied the Scriptures, at times long for answers to very difficult questions that are simply not answered.

The verse quoted above clearly states that there are things that are secret. God knows everything and has purposely kept some things to himself. That may disturb some people, but God knows what we need to know to live the kind of lives that would be of most benefit to ourselves and to others.

In contrast to the "secret things" there are the "things revealed." The revealed things have been given to us and future generation to follow. Note that the purpose of God's revelation is so that we would do what he says. Time and time again we get caught up with biblical issues in a philosophical sort of way. We spend great amounts of time arguing and musing over all sorts of issues that make no difference in our relationship to God or to others. God has spoken to us in order to make a difference in how we live. Let's leave the "secret things" with him.