Again and again, the “God who …” phrases in Scripture reveal God’s works. As we respond to our Lord deep within, receiving what he communicates Spirit-to-spirit, those phrases also reveal his ways.

“There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (Dan. 2:28).

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Maybe you’ve had friends like Job’s. You try to tell them about your pain, your confusion, your disappointment with life and with God – and they start preaching to you, as Zophar did to Job:

Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above – what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below – what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. (Job 11:7-9)

Technically, Job’s friend was right. No one can fathom the mysteries of God. Yet God himself later told Zophar, “You have not spoken the truth about me” (Job 42:8).

Smug and patronizing, Zophar only spoke half the truth:

No human can figure out God’s mysteries –
yet our Lord can and does reveal mysteries.
It is his way.

Daniel understood as much and said so to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, after the king had a troubling dream. Waking from the dream and intent on understanding its meaning, Nebuchadnezzar called in his wise men. He required, though, that whoever would purport to interpret the dream must first tell him what it was. No one could do it, until Daniel arrived.

The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”

Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:

“As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind. (Dan. 2:26-30)

Daniel told the king in detail what his dream was and what it had meant.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” (Dan. 2:46-47)

Do not assume that only ancient biblical characters or people of Daniel’s stature can know the mysteries of God. The God who reveals mysteries delights to show what cannot otherwise be known, to those whose lives are yielded to him and who consistently honor him as the Revealer.

It is his way.

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See also: God who reveals mysteries – 2