Daily Devotional | God Is Far Above

Do you remember the story of Nicodemus, the Pharisee who came to Jesus at night? When the religious leader asked Jesus how it was possible to be born again, I wondered, “How in the world could Nicodemus be so dull?” As I’ve gotten older and less arrogant, I find that I identify more and more with Nicodemus. The ways of God are indeed mysterious to our limited human minds.

In Ecclesiastes 11, the Teacher continues his series of proverbs. Their literal meaning is fairly easy to understand. For example, in verses 1–2 we are encouraged to invest widely. In verses 4 and 6 we are urged to take action. But in verse 5, the Teacher points out what Nicodemus so clearly demonstrated: We mortals don’t understand the ways of God.

Jesus seemed to allude to Ecclesiastes 11:5 in His conversation with Nicodemus recorded in John 3. When Nicodemus didn’t understand about being born again, Jesus responded: “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (vv. 7–8). Jesus then transitioned to foreshadow His own death and presented the gospel, encapsulated in the famous John 3:16.

In Ecclesiastes, the Teacher also pondered the mystery of God’s ways using the same language. We don’t know the path of the wind. And we don’t know how children are formed in the womb. To sum up, we “cannot understand the work of God” (v. 5). God’s ways are mysterious and seemingly impenetrable, but the Son of God descended to earth to make a way for us to be “born of the Spirit” and live in relationship with our glorious Creator.

Go Deeper

Why didn’t Nicodemus understand the message of Jesus? How would you explain to someone what it means to be born again?

Pray with Us: We know, God, that we cannot fully understand Your ways, but we ask for humble faith to trust You and always rely on You. “All ye who pain and sorrow bear/ Praise God and lay on Him your care.” (Francis of Assisi)

BY Dr. Russell L. Meek

Russell Meek teaches Old Testament and Hebrew at Moody Theological Seminary. He writes a regular column on understanding and applying the Old Testament at Fathom Magazine, and his books include Ecclesiastes and the Search for Meaning in an Upside-Down World and the co-authored Book-by-Book Guide to Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary. Russ, his wife, and their three sons live in northern Idaho.