Archive for year: 2020
Digging Deeper: The Secret of God
Author: Mr. Kenneth Frank | Faculty, Living Education
Estimated Reading Time: 7 min.
Did you know that Job, an ancient Old Testament character, believed he had lost the “secret of God” during his prolonged trial?
The Book of Job, perhaps the oldest book of our Old Testament, narrates his story. It introduces him as a righteous and devout man enjoying God’s blessing of prosperity and happiness upon his family. However, within a short time his possessions, children, health, and the respect from his wife and closest friends are taken from him. This story is certainly one of the saddest and most tragic accounts of a man who lost it all – except his life. He lamented his past prosperous life but one of the many things he longed to see restored most was “the secret of God.” To what did he refer?
Our home base verse for this study is Job 29:4 KJV “As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle [dwelling]…” The secret of God was one of several things Job lamented in his parable (Job 29:1) that he had lost and longed to have restored. He could not understand why a just and loving God would deprive him of the very blessings that signaled he was “perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1). This mysterious book is part of a set of Old Testament books called “wisdom literature” that ask difficult and complex questions of life. This book has elicited much discussion and printed commentary trying to understand the purpose of Job’s suffering. Nonetheless, this book is still a favorite in “The Bible as Literature” university classes for its exploration of human suffering.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible explains the special privilege of experiencing the secret of God: “‘The secret of the Lord is said to be with those that fear him, for he shows them that in his covenant which others see not’, Psa 25:14. God communicates his favor and grace to his people, and receives the return of their devotion in a way secret to the world” (e-Sword 12.1). The phrase “the secret of God” appears in only two verses in the Book of Job, using the same Hebrew words for “secret” and “God.” These two verses are Job15:8 and Job 29:4. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon defines the word for “secret” (sod) as “familiar converse with God, intimacy” and the word for “God”, which is eloah, is defined as “God” or “a false god” (Bible Analyzer 5.4.1.22). Our focus for this Digging Deeper column will be on the word sod for “secret.”
Job believed he had lost the intimate fellowship with the God that he had served faithfully for so long. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible describes the secret of God as a time when “…God conversed freely with him, as one bosom-friend with another. He knew God’s mind, and was not in the dark about it, as, of late, he had been” (e-Sword 12.1). Job thought he had a close association with the Almighty but now could not understand why He seemed to have abandoned him (Job 29:5). That special relationship had changed and Job did not know why.
In the Ancient Near East, councils of men as the leaders of communities would meet together to discuss important local issues. The Hebrew word sod has this fascinating background to Job’s thought. The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary offers this note for Job 15:8: “The Hebrew means properly the cushions on which a divan [committee] of councilors in the East usually sit. God’s servants are admitted to God’s secrets (Psa 25:14; Gen 18:17; Joh 15:15)” (e-Sword 12.1). Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible explains that the Hebrew word for “secret” can be either the cushions on which they sit or the council members (Ibid.). Job lamented that the secret of God was no longer upon his dwelling – that he was no longer in intimate association with his God who shared private conversations with those on His council. Job once knew God’s thinking due to this special relationship. At that time he was part of God’s inner circle, but no longer. Now amid his terrible suffering, Job could not understand God’s permitting it. He thought he did not deserve it. The good news about Job is that it appears that by the end of the story the secret of God has again come upon his dwelling.
Cross-references elucidate an application for the secret of God on how we may enjoy this special relationship. Psa 25:14 KJV declares “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.” The word for secret is the same Hebrew word used in Job 29:4 referring to a divan or circle of friends deliberating together confidentially. Once again, this depicts the closeness, intimacy of friendship, and fellowship between God and His faithful people. God does not share His secrets with everyone but only with those who fear Him and keep His covenant. This body of chosen people is God’s special assembly: His nation anciently and today His church. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible comments on this verse: “Those that receive the truth in the love of it, and experience the power of it, best understand the mystery of it. They know the meaning of his providence, and what God is doing with them, better than others… They know by experience the blessings of the covenant and the pleasure of that fellowship which gracious souls have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. This honour have all his saints” (e-Sword 12.1).
A similar statement comes from Pro 3:32 KJV: “For the froward [perverse, self-willed] is abomination to the LORD : but his secret is with the righteous.” An Old Testament patriarch with whom God had such a close relationship was Abraham: Gen18:17-19 KJV “And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; (18) Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” God shared His secret with Abraham concerning His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham was not only a friend of God but also a prophet of God (Gen 20:7). Notice what God says in Amos 3:7 KJV: “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” God shares secret counsel with those who have entered His special covenant and are His faithful servants.
This same idea is expressed by Jesus to His followers in our New Testament: Joh 15:15 KJV “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” What an honor it is to be called Jesus’ friends! Christians are the people with whom He shares His deepest thoughts and promises. He does not do so with everyone but only those with whom He is in covenant. Paul reflects on this special relationship in Col 3:3 KJV: “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” As a result, Paul tells us to set our affection on things which are above (Col 3:1-2). If we do, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Col 3:4). Eternally, we shall cherish the secret of God.
Kenneth Frank was born and raised in New Jersey, USA, and attended Ambassador College, graduating in 1973. He served in the Canadian ministry from 1973-1999, after which he returned to the USA to pastor churches in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina for 15 years. Having earned a BA degree from Ambassador College he later earned a MA degree from Grand Canyon University before being assigned to the Charlotte office to teach at Living University, now Living Education. Currently, he teaches the Survey of the Bible course to the on-campus students and writes the Digging Deeper column for our online Bible study program. He is married, has four children, and seven grandchildren.
Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 2 “The Re-Creation: Days 1 and 2”
Featured Passage: Genesis 1:1-8
The re-creation week occurred perhaps millions of years after God first created the universe. Some of the angels, about one third, rebelled against God’s rule over them, and they spread chaos throughout the universe, leaving the earth in devastation. It was in this setting that God rehabilitated the earth, making it suitable for human life again. The first thing God did was to restore light to the earth, and on day two, the sky was prepared.
Discuss:
- Help your child grasp that a lot of time could have transpired between verses 1 and 2 of Genesis 1.
- Ask what the earth must have been like when everything was dark and covered by thick clouds and water.
- Ask if human beings could live in such an environment.
- Explain that God makes things in stages, and when re-creating the earth, He started by “turning the lights on” (clearing away the murky darkness) first!
- Help your child see that God starts the days in the evenings.
- Ask what God did on the second day.
- Explain that the atmosphere, blue skies, and clouds were prepared on this day.
Memory Challenge:
The Days of Creation Week:
- Day 1 – Divided light from darkness
- Day 2 – Prepared sky and clouds
- Day 3 – Separated dry land from seas; created plants
- Day 4 – Appointed sun, moon, and stars for lights in the sky
- Day 5 – Created birds and fish
- Day 6 – Created land animals and man
- Day 7 – Created the Sabbath by resting
Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 1″The God Kingdom”
Featured Passage: Revelation 1:8; Colossians 1:15–16; Psalm 103:19; Hebrews 1:1–3; Joshua 10:11–14; 2 Kings 20:10–11; Matthew 14:25–33; Mark 4:37–41; Revelation 21:7; 2 Corinthians 6:18; 1 John 3:1–3.
The plant, animal, and human kingdoms are classifications of living things in our material world. The spirit world also has living beings, and the angelic kingdom has different classifications of angels. However, there is one Kingdom above all others, material or spiritual: the God Kingdom. God is on a level of existence that is hard for humans to understand. God is self-existing and eternal. God was, He is, and He always will be. God is the Creator of all things, spirit and material, therefore, God is above all things. God is not bound by physical laws, time, or space because God created these things and controls them all. This is why God could keep the sun from going down for Joshua and turn the sun back ten degrees for Hezekiah. This is why Jesus Christ could walk on water and calm the roaring sea. The good news is that the God Kingdom is a family, and every human being who has ever lived has the potential to be a member. You were born to be part of the family of God!
Discuss:
- Talk with your child about the greatness of God, His power and majesty. State examples and ask him/her to give examples as well.
- Discuss the fact that God is not bound by the laws of physics (like gravity, magnetism, movement of planets, etc.), which means He can do miraculous things. Discuss some miracles mentioned in the Bible that defy physical laws.
- Explain that God is offering us eternal life in His family as His sons and daughters. We will be members of the God Family (1 John 3:2).
- Our inheritance is the entire universe. Perhaps everyone will have his or her own galaxy. Ask what your child would do to inherit the universe. What on earth is worth giving up eternity? Nothing!
Memory Challenge:
Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 1 “Who Is God?”
Featured Passages: John 1:1–3; Genesis 1:26–27; John 4:24; John 3:16; Psalm 90:2; Colossians 1:16–17; Isaiah 46:9–10; 1 John 4:8
It is very important to understand who and what God is. We can only know this if God chooses to reveal it to us, and He has, through the Bible. What was it like when nothing physical existed? In that pre-historic era, there were two eternal, powerful, spirit beings called God and the Word. Together, God and the Word planned and designed everything seen and unseen: the angelic hosts, the stars and planets, the plants and animals, and man. The Word, who became Jesus Christ, was the One who did the creating, and God created all things through Him. God is not some magical “force.” No, God is real! He has form and shape. We can know what God looks like because He made us to look like Him. God is all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving. By His Spirit, He can see what is going on everywhere! However, we cannot really know who God is without knowing His character. God is good, merciful, kind, and filled with compassion. Everything God does is motivated from love. God is love.
Discuss:
- Help your child understand that there are two beings in the God Family, God and the Word, whom we now call the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ.
- Explain that God wants every human being to be born into the Family of God.
- Explain that the Spirit of God is not a separate person, but rather the power by which God does things.
- Ask your child to describe what he or she thinks the relationship between God and the Word was like before the creation.
- Speculate with your child about what it would be like to be a God Being. What would you do? Where in the universe would you visit?
Review Memorization:
Help your child memorize the following verse:
Isaiah 46:9–10 “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 2 ” Where Did God Come From?”
Featured Passages: Exodus 3:13-14; Isaiah 57:15; Romans 1:18-22; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 4:1-4
God had no beginning, and He has no end. God was not created; He is the Creator. God is the ever-living One. One of His names is simply, “I Am”. It means He has always existed. It may be difficult to understand, but God did not come from anywhere. God is eternal. He is, and He has always been. Atheists say this makes no sense. They would rather believe that everything happened by chance. They believe that cells and organisms and human beings just came together somehow! However, they offer no explanation of how that happened. Evolution is an attempt by people to explain the existence of a creation without a Creator. God calls this foolish. He says they are without excuse; the universe itself is proof of His existence. God now lives in the third heaven where He reigns over His creation.
Discuss:
- Explain to your child that the Word was the God in the Old Testament who interacted with human beings (John 1:1, 14).
- Explain to your child that evolution, even though it is portrayed as a fact, is a theory which offers no evidence as proof. (You may wish to view the Tomorrow’s World telecast “Darwin’s Legacy,” which explains this point.)
- Ask your child if they have heard of evolution. Help them to explain why it is false, in their own words.
- Help your child think about God’s throne. What will it be like to be there?
Memory Challenge:
Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 2 “How Can I Know that God Exists?”
Featured Passages: Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 40:12, 18, 21–22, 25-26; Matthew 21:22; Romans 1:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 16–17; Hebrews 11:1–3; James 1:5-6; 1 John 5:14–15
God wants us to have faith, but our faith is not blind. We are admonished to prove all things, and there is evidence to support God’s existence. We will cover only a few ways we can know God exists here. First of all, God says that the creation declares His glory and that we can know Him through it. The complexity of even a “simple” cell requires that there is an intelligent Designer. The presence of a creation demands that there be a Creator. Another proof of God’s existence is fulfilled prophecy. Only God can say what will happen thousands of years in advance. Answered prayer is a personal way to prove God is real. God wants His children to talk with Him in prayer. Pray to God in faith according to His will, and your answered prayer will give you solid proof that God exists.
Discuss:
- Help your child to understand that it is okay to have questions and that God has the answers.
- Ask why he or she thinks most people do not want to believe God is the Creator. Guide the conversation to show the human mind is normally hostile toward God and does not want to obey Him (Romans 8:7).
- Have a conversation about prayer. Cite some personal examples of your prayers that God answered. Encourage your child to develop a personal relationship with God through prayer.
Memory Challenge:
Isa. 46:9-10 “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’”
Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 3 “The Re-Creation: Days 3 and 4”
Featured Passages: Genesis 1:9-19, Psalm 104:5-9
On day three of the re-creation week, God made the land appear by separating the seas into their places. He caused the plants to grow. All the fruit trees, shade trees, edible plants, and beautiful flowers came forth at His command. The sun, moon, and stars were ordained for signs, seasons, days, and years on the fourth day, so that humans could keep track of time. Knowing when the seasons occur helps us to plan for planting, harvesting, and especially for keeping God’s Holy Days.
Discuss:
- Ask your child why God made the land. What purposes does land serve for humans and animals?
- Ask why God made plants. Ask what purposes plants serve.
- Help your child to make a list of all the things people and animals do with plants.
- Discuss what the “greater and lesser lights” that God ordained on the fourth day are.
- Your child might be interested to know that before GPS systems, people navigated by the stars.
- Ask what he/she likes about the sun, the moon, and the stars. Talk about how the moon helps us know when to keep God’s Holy Days.
Memory Challenge:
The Days of Creation Week:
Day 1 – Divided light from darkness
Day 2 – Prepared sky and clouds
Day 3 – Separated dry land from seas; created plants
Day 4 – Appointed sun, moon, and stars for lights in the sky
Day 5 – Created birds and fish
Day 6 – Created land animals and man
Day 7 – Created the Sabbath by resting
Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 4 “The Re-Creation: Days 5, 6, and 7”
Featured Passage: Genesis 1:20-2:3
On day five of the re-creation week, God created birds and fish. Songbirds along with larger birds flew through the sky; fish populated the lakes, streams, and oceans. God then created land animals on the sixth day. Toward the end of the sixth day, God created the first man, Adam, in God’s own image. God created the Sabbath on the seventh day of creation by resting in it, setting mankind an example to do the same.
Discuss:
- Ask your child to think of reasons why God created animals.
- Ask who mankind resembles.
- Discuss why God created mankind. Remind him/her that God wanted a family.
- Ask what God said about His creation.
- Talk about what he/she likes about the Sabbath and why it is special to him/her.
- Remind your child that God made the Sabbath, and He set it apart for holy use.
Memory Challenge:
The Days of Re-Creation Week:
Day 1 – Divided light from darkness
Day 2 – Prepared sky and clouds
Day 3 – Separated dry land from seas; Created plants
Day 4 – Appointed sun, moon, & the stars for lights in the sky
Day 5 – Created birds and fish
Day 6 – Created land animals and Man
Day 7 – Created the Sabbath by resting
More to Do!
These activities are optional, but some children may find them enjoyable
- .Using seven paper plates, draw and color what God created each day and label them.
- Have your child find pictures in magazines or books that are examples of God’s creation and state on which day they were created.
Children’s Bible Program- Level 1: Lessons 1-4 Packet: Creation
Includes the lessons:
- Lesson 1 “Before Time Began”
- Lesson 2 “The Re-Creation: Days 1 and 2”
- Lesson 3 “The Re-Creation: Days 3 and 4”
- Lesson 4 “The Re-Creation: Days 5,6, and 7”