For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength”, wrote St. Paul nearly two thousand years ago. But how could he speak about the “foolishness and weakness” of God? Is that not offensive both to God whom he experienced in the person of Jesus Christ and the people who believe in God to be omnipotent and omniscient? What then is the foolishness of God as compared to human wisdom?
If we begin with our experience of human beings first, we find that our views often conflict with those of others. Even the views of grown up children are often at complete variance with those of their parents on several issues. They consider them as too old fashioned with regard to the choice of their subjects in college or the dress they wear or the places they want to go. It is often the same when it comes to our plans with regard to life, especially when they do not materialise or do not go the way we would like them to go. We are quite sure that what we plan is the best thing for us whether it is to do with our studies, jobs, travel, buying a house, or a marriage proposal.
We pray to God so hard for those things to be fulfilled, especially those which are not within our power to achieve. Sometimes it could be that when our plans are purely altruistic, and are meant to help others, we find that our prayers still remain unanswered. We then begin to doubt whether God hears our prayers at all or whether He even exists. Such thoughts come to our mind because we ignore what the Bible sensibly teaches, “Be not wise in your own eyes…”.
While making our plans we must bear in mind that we see only certain dimensions of things which may appear absolutely fine to us at that moment. Little do we realise that God sees and knows other dimensions which we do not and which may not eventually be good for us!
Much more than our parents who advise us based on their vast experience, God with His experience knows exactly what is best for us.
It is common to find people who, when they begin to encounter difficulties, instead of relying on the wisdom of God, start cursing people, situations and even blame God.
The book of Proverbs appropriately describes such people, including us, “On the lips of Him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense”. Shall we then pray towards developing a wisdom that appreciates “the foolishness of God”?
