Mankind is notorious for believing that he has everything figured. He believes, and has believed through the centuries, that his knowledge is sufficient to give him everything he needs to know and to lack nothing. Because of these beliefs many men have gone through life believing there is no need for God. They believe they have the ability to work things out for themselves, and therefore God is simply a burdensome tale propagated by weak people who do not have the courage to take care of themselves.

However, when one truly considers the contrast between man’s knowledge and the knowledge of God, he quickly comes to recognize how lacking he truly is; for man’s knowledge pales in comparison to the wondrous glory of the knowledge of the Creator. Consider a couple of examples of the differences between man’s knowledge and God’s knowledge.

Man’s knowledge is finite, God’s knowledge is infinite. The knowledge of man is bound by what he has experienced in his life. Those experiences can come through a variety of avenues, whether through the five empirical senses or through knowledge gained from books and literature, etc. When all man has is his own knowledge and understanding on which to depend, his view of life is quite dim and one sided.

God’s knowledge, however, is not finite in any way, shape, or form. Any man who believes his knowledge to be equal to that of the Almighty should take the test offered by God to Job in Job 38-41. This test is the final test distinguishing finite knowledge versus infinite knowledge. Even with all the wonders of science available to us today, we can only answer a few of the questions God gives Job. We cannot even get a passing grade, much less ace the test.

God’s knowledge is in no way finite. God knows the intricacies of man, both physically and mentally, because he created him. God knows the inner workings of the universe, because he put them in place. The list could go on and on. Nevertheless, the knowledge of God does not waver or decay.

Man’s knowledge is of physical origin, God’s knowledge is spiritual. Because of man’s knowledge coming through the realm of experience, combined with the knowledge of others; the knowledge which man, of his own accord, gathers would only pertain to those things physical. Therefore, man’s knowledge and understanding of many aspects of life would be greatly lacking if it were not for God and His word. The greatest problem man faces is the desire to apply only his own knowledge to his decisions and not seek wisdom from an outside source: the Word of God.

On the other side of the coin, God’s knowledge stems from the spiritual realm. It is not bound by the physical things of this earth, but instead surpasses it with a knowledge of that which is beyond these physical things. It is for this reason God spoke, through the prophet Isaiah: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9).

God’s knowledge far surpasses our own because of his understanding of those things spiritual. Without the revelation of that knowledge in Scripture, man would truly be lost in his quest for knowledge and understanding.