The term “infinite” simply has the idea of being without bounds or limitations. In other words, there are no boundaries to the nature of God outside of the boundaries of His character. There are no boundaries that anyone can set to God and limit Him in any way. No one can limit God, thwart Him, or ward off His hand in whatever He wants to do. “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?'” (Dan 4:35). God does what He wants and no one in heaven or earth can stop Him, call Him to account, or even question what He has done. He is fully God and He is a real God and infinite in all of His being.
The term “infinite” simply has the idea of being without bounds or limitations. In other words, there are no boundaries to the nature of God outside of the boundaries of His character. There are no boundaries that anyone can set to God and limit Him in any way. No one can limit God, thwart Him, or ward off His hand in whatever He wants to do. “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?'” (Dan 4:35). God does what He wants and no one in heaven or earth can stop Him, call Him to account, or even question what He has done. He is fully God and He is a real God and infinite in all of His being.
All the attributes of God are infinite and beyond measure of any being in heaven or on earth. This attribute means that man cannot understand the depths of anything but must rely on God for understanding. “Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count” (Psa 40:5). How can man even begin to comprehend all the wonders that God has done? Scientists and philosophers are barely scratching the surface in terms of understanding the physical realm on earth and they have barely even started studying space and other planets. Theologians are barely touching the hem of His garments as they study this majestic God in reference to the spiritual realm. What can we compare God with? We can attempt certain analogies, but they remain only poor analogies at best. If we try to speak and declare what God has done, who can even count them much less preach or teach all of the glory of God. Man has not grasped the meaning of the cross with a full comprehension much less all of Scripture and even less the whole glory of God. Ah, the sweetness of beginning the study of God in awe and wonder. “When I behold, in awesome wonder.”
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite (Psa 147:5). There are great athletes in our day and great politicians from the past (implication intended). But what does that term (great) mean in reference to God? How the heart and mind must struggle to even begin to imagine what greatness is in terms of God. His understanding is infinite? What can that possibly mean? Analytical philosophy simply must put a hand over its mouth at this point. Theologians must put hands over their mouths as well and just stand back in wonder at a God so great in glory. We can never even begin to understand what God really is. He understands everything that there is and all that could possibly be. He understands the depths of everything and what everything is linked and tied to. He understands how all things are linked together in some mysterious way, though the mystery is ours and not His. How man indeed should trust in the Lord with all of his heart and not lean on his own understanding. Trusting in God’s understanding is true wisdom. Trusting in man’s understanding is true foolishness and folly.
“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand” (Psa 139:17-18). This is yet another attempt at describing the thoughts and infinity of God. How precious it is to know the thoughts of God as they are revealed in Scripture, but to know the sum of all of them is vastly beyond the capacities of all finite beings put together. Who can gain an exact count of all the grains of sand on earth? Who can know the grains of sand in this vast universe? Yet God’s thoughts outnumber them. This is an expression that denotes infinity. God’s thoughts, that is, His understanding and wisdom are far beyond the capacity of man. How utterly glorious it is to bow before such wisdom and understanding and see how God plans to exalt and glorify His name in all things.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable” (Isa 40:28). One begins to wonder why all these verses refer to the understanding of God. However, we must be careful in how we think of God’s understanding. For example, “as he thinks within himself, so he is” (Prov 23:7). Here, at the very least, we see the link between understanding and what a person is. So a reference to the vastness and infinity of the understanding of God is really a reference to all that God is. The catechism tells us that God is Spirit has not a body like men. God is pure understanding and pure thought, so if He is infinite in understanding He is infinite in all of His being and ways.
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How gloriously unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways (Rom 11:33). His wisdom, knowledge, judgments and ways cannot be separated. He is infinite and glorious in all His being. How this should draw finite beings to utter awe, humility, and reverent worship. If we once gain a glimpse of His glory as it shines in infinity, we will never be the same.
God Loves... Himself 
Leave a comment