What Does it Mean that God is Omniscient?

In our daily meditations, we continue to explore the theme of Jesus as our Good Shepherd: The Lord is deeply familiar with us and knows us inside out. Jesus said, “I know my sheep, and my sheep know me” (John 10:14). Theologians have a special term for God's ability to know everything about us; they describe God as omniscient. He knows all things at all times. There is nothing God does not know. He never had to learn it; He didn't need to read up on the day’s events. He is not surprised by anything. The Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, shares the same perfect knowledge and complete understanding of everything. Perfect knowledge means having a precise understanding of the facts. Perfect wisdom involves applying facts accurately, and perfect understanding means comprehending and interpreting them fully. Omniscience makes God infallible; He cannot err or omit anything (Psalm 139:1-10). How wonderful to know that He still loves and cares for us, even knowing everything about us. Indeed, He is the Good Shepherd—the lovely One!

God fulfilled His plan to bring the Gospel to all people by initially calling the Jewish nation, and then, in Acts chapter ten, calling the Gentiles into obedience to the Gospel as well. The promise to Abraham was that "all families on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). Jesus said:

I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd (John 10:16).

The "other" sheep Jesus refers to are the Gentiles, the sheep not from the same "sheep pen" of Hebrew origin. The promised seed of Abraham, the Lord Jesus Christ, will unite Jew and Gentile into one flock under one Shepherd. This prophecy does not mean that God abandoned the original flock. He stated that there would be one flock with one Shepherd. All believers will become one flock, Jew and Gentile together, and we will all be caught up to the Lord at the same time, not seven years apart as some suggest. The Messiah voluntarily laid His life down for His sheep so they could receive forgiveness of sins and new life. Satan is guilty of what he did at the cross, but it was God's plan from the beginning.

I heard a story that Doctor Donald Grey Barnhouse once shared some time ago. It was about a man who owned a beautiful estate with magnificent trees that he took great pride in. He often walked among the trees, admiring their beauty. This man had an enemy who intensely hated him and was always seeking ways to bother him. Eventually, the enemy devised a plan, believing it would inflict a deep wound on the man. He decided to go to the estate in the dead of night and cut down one of the most beautiful trees. He prepared carefully, bringing an ax and saw, and began his task. He worked all night until his muscles were sore, and his hands had blisters.

As morning broke, he saw the proprietor riding with a companion toward the trees where he had been working. He intensified his efforts, doing his best, and the great tree began to creak and sway. As it gained speed in the fall, the enemy started to shout in victory. One of the branches, however, fell on him, pinning him to the ground in pain. His hatred, however, was fierce, and he mocked the proprietor who approached him. The estate owner called his companion and said to the enemy, "You thought to do me significant harm, but I want to show you what you have done. This man with me is the architect of a beautiful home I plan to build here among these trees. It was necessary to cut down one of the trees to make room for the house. Look at this plan. The tree you worked all night on, and now the cause of your death, is the tree that had to be cut down to make room for my house. You worked for me unknowingly, and your labor is in vain, and bitterness will be your food in death.

Satan thought he was clever by crucifying God's Son, the Lord Jesus. His effort, though, was foreseen and foreordained by God to bring many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10). Jew and Gentile believers will sparkle like jewels to the Lord one day before our Shepherd:

The LORD, their God, will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown (Zechariah 9:16).

Keith Thomas

Shortened from the more detailed study at the following link: Jesus, the Good Shepherd