God Is Moving In Ways We Can’t Always See

July 12th, 2026
by Becky White

Paul isn't just talking about theology—he's talking about history. Specifically, how God has been working through Israel (the Jewish people) and the Gentiles (everyone else).
Romans 11:25–26 tells us there has been a partial hardening of Israel until "the fullness of the Gentiles has come in."
In simple terms:

For a season, many Jewish people have not recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
During that same season, people from every nation have been coming to faith in Christ.
One day, there will be a great turning of Jewish people to Jesus as well.

The point isn't that we can predict exactly how it all unfolds.
The point is this:

God is not done with Israel. And God is not done with us.

The story God is writing is still unfolding.
Every time someone places their faith in Jesus, part of that story continues.
We see it today:

Baptisms
Quiet heart changes
Restored families
New faith
Renewed hope

God is still moving—often in ways we only recognize when we slow down enough to notice.
2. God Knows Everything. We Don't. That's Actually Good News.
Paul celebrates both God's knowledge and His wisdom.

Knowledge means knowing everything.
Wisdom means knowing exactly what to do with that knowledge.

People can have plenty of knowledge and very little wisdom.

God possesses both perfectly.
Pastor Bob illustrated this with an experience from serving as a wilderness trip leader and EMT-in-training at summer camp.
When arriving at an accident scene, the first step is triage:

Who needs help first?
Who is in the greatest danger?
Where can we make the biggest difference?

Those decisions are difficult because they're made with limited information.
God never has that problem.
He never reacts.
He never scrambles.
He is never surprised.
He knows:

Exactly what you need.
Exactly when you need it.
Exactly how to work through your circumstances.

Life often doesn't make sense from our perspective.
But Paul reminds us:

God's judgments are unsearchable, and His ways are beyond tracing out.

We're not called to understand everything.
We're called to trust the One who does.

3. When God's Plan Makes No Sense
Trust isn't always easy.
Pastor Bob shared the story of missionary Elisabeth Elliot.
Before the tragic death of her husband, Jim Elliot, Elisabeth spent nine months painstakingly learning a tribal language so Scripture could one day be translated.
Every handwritten note was stored in one suitcase.

The suitcase was lost.
Nine months of work disappeared.
Naturally, questions followed:

"God, why would You let this happen?"
"Didn't You want these people to have the Bible?"
"What was the point?"

We often ask similar questions.

Why the diagnosis?
Why the lost job?
Why the broken relationship?
Why did that door close?

Paul answers with humility rather than explanations:

"How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!"

God doesn't promise to explain every detail.
He invites us to trust Him anyway.
Faith says:

"I don't know what You're doing, God.

But I know who You are.

And I will trust You."

4. God's Promises Don't Expire
Paul then offers tremendous hope.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Romans 11:29

"Irrevocable" means:

Not reversible
Not canceled
Not taken back

God has not abandoned His promises.
Neither has He abandoned those who belong to Christ.
If you trust Jesus:

You are forgiven.
You are adopted into God's family.
You have been given the Holy Spirit.
You are known and loved.

Not because you've earned it.
Because Jesus has.
Your relationship with God isn't hanging by the thread of your performance.
It's held securely by His promise.
That truth should produce gratitude—not pride.

5. It's All About God's Glory (And That's Actually Liberating)
Paul asks three powerful questions:

Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Who has been His counselor?

Who has ever given to God so that God owes them something?

The answer is obvious:
No one.
Everything we have already belongs to Him.
Paul concludes:

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.

Those three phrases summarize everything:

From Him — God is the source.
Through Him — God sustains all things.
To Him — God is the ultimate purpose of everything.

Unlike us, God deserves glory.
And that's actually freeing.
It means:

You don't have to be the center of the story.
You don't have to hold everything together.
You don't have to prove your worth.

Your purpose is found in Someone far greater than yourself.

6. Losing Your Life...To Truly Find It
Jesus said:

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23–24

In Jesus' day, the cross wasn't jewelry or decoration.
It represented surrender.
To lose your life for Christ means handing Him control.
Ironically, that's where life is truly found.
Through Jesus we receive:

A new identity.
A new purpose.
A lasting hope.
Strength for life's hardest moments.

That's exactly what baptism celebrates:

The old life laid down.
The new life raised up.
A life rooted in God's promises.

So, Where Does This Leave Us?
As we finish Romans 9–11 and prepare to begin our upcoming series on the Lord's Prayer, we're left with a simple invitation.

Notice where God is working.
Trust His wisdom when you don't understand.
Rest in promises that never expire.
Live for His glory instead of your own.
Follow Jesus daily, trusting that the life you surrender to Him is the life you'll truly find.

God is awesome.
God is at work.
And His story—for Israel, for the Church, and for you—is not over.
Scriptures Referenced