What The Bible's Paradoxes Teach Us

The Bible contains many paradoxes.  If a person didn't know that, he would probably have a hard time understanding the Bible.  So we should ask ourselves why there are paradoxes in the Bible.  Why wouldn't God make it simple and plain?

I'll start by stating what I believe the paradoxes of the Bible teach us: They teach us not to put God in a box.  When we start to think that God is always this way or that way, there's a verse that proves us wrong.  But if we take an opposite view, there's still verses that proves us wrong.  Let me give some examples to show what I mean.

For God does not show favoritism.  Romans 2:11

This is supported by Acts 10:34 and John 3:16.  This is what causes people to say "God loves everyone".  But if people are ignorant of Scripture they might think that's true.  Paul also writes in Romans:

Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."  Romans 9:13

Paul quoted Malachi 1:2-3.  So we have Paul writing that God does not show favoritism, but then he quotes an example where God clearly showed favoritism.  What is going on?  Its a paradox.  We should acknowledge that God does not show favoritism, but we should not think that He can't show favoritism.  God can do anything He pleases.  We should look at this with humility.  Never should we say, and judge for ourselves, that God does not love a certain person.  At the same time, never should we take God's love for granted for ourselves.  The Scripture says "Esau I have hated", so do not assume that God will love you.  Do not assume that God would never hate you.  Always look at it with a low view of yourself and a high view of God.

Here's another one to consider: Was Jesus omnipotent when He was here on earth?  We all know that God is omnipotent; He created the heavens and the earth, so that's a no-brainer.  But Jesus said the Father is greater than He (John 14:28).  So how could Jesus be omnipotent?  But Jesus also said the Father and He are one (John 10:30).  If the Father is omnipotent, and the Son and the Father are one, then Jesus would be omnipotent too.  But it may be for a time, while Jesus was on earth, that He was not omnipotent.  We know Jesus is eternal (John 1:1), and we can assume that He is eternally omnipotent (Matthew 28:18).  But we know of at least one thing Jesus couldn't do on earth, perform miracles in His hometown (Mark 6:5), and we know that Jesus didn't know the time of His second coming when He said "nor the Son" (Matthew 24:36).

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  Matthew 19:26

All things are possible with God, but can God make a boulder so big He can't lift it?  Could God make an omelet so hot He can't eat it?  The answer to both is yes.  The paradox allows for it.  The fact that God the Father has no limits, and that God the Son did have limits while He was here on earth, and the Son and the Father are one, shows us that God can make a boulder so big He can't lift it, and God can make an omelet so hot He can't eat it.  Because God the Father did indeed make many boulders so big that Jesus could not have lifted them (if He wanted to).  And if God had made an omelet hotter than the sun, Jesus would not have been able to eat it.  In other words, God is so unlimited, God can even put limits on Himself.  Since all things are possible for God, making something impossible is even possible.

I know this sounds weird, and it may be hard to comprehend.  But the basic point of all these paradoxes is this: Do not put God in a box.  Do not think you have God all figured out; you don't.  The minute you think you can neatly describe God, He will show you that you're wrong.  He shows us all that He is far too magnificent to understand or put into words.