Beyond Our Understanding (Job 36:26)

2026 Bible Reading: Job 35–36

PRINCIPLE: Trust our infinitely great and eternal God. (Job 36:26)

“Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.” – Job 36:26

In Job 36, Elihu continued defending God’s justice, wisdom, and greatness. He declared that God was mighty, upheld justice, watched over the righteous, and used affliction to instruct people and turn them away from pride and evil (Job 36:5–15). He therefore warned Job against allowing his suffering to lead him toward resentment or resistance against God (Job 36:16–21).

Instead, Elihu directed Job’s attention to God’s unmatched power and called him to “remember to extol his work,” which people beheld in creation (Job 36:22–25). From the greatness of God’s observable works, Elihu then directed Job’s attention to the immeasurable greatness and eternal existence of God Himself.

Elihu began, “Behold” (Hebrew: hēn), an expression that emphatically pointed to the words that followed. It called Job to pause and give careful attention to a truth he must not overlook. This was the third of Elihu’s four uses of “behold” in this section. Together, they directed Job’s attention to the God who was mighty yet despised no one, was exalted in power, possessed incomprehensible greatness, and ruled sovereignly over creation (Job 36:5, 22, 26, 30).

Elihu declared, “God is great” (śaggîʾ). This adjective meant “great” or “exalted” and was related to the verb translated “extol” (śaggeʾ) in Job 36:24. The verbal connection was significant: because God was great, Job was called to magnify His work by recognizing and praising what He had done. God’s greatness did not merely exceed human greatness; it surpassed every human measurement and comparison.

The words “we know him not” did not mean that God was entirely unknowable. In context, they meant that human beings did not know how great He was. God had revealed Himself truly, but no finite mind could know Him exhaustively or comprehend the full extent of His being and ways. The more people came to know Him, the more they recognized how much of His greatness remained beyond their understanding.

Elihu added, “the number” (mispar) “of his years is unsearchable” (lōʾ ḥēqer). The noun misparordinarily referred to a number or quantity that could be counted, while ḥēqer referred to searching or investigation. When used with the negative, the expression meant that God’s years were beyond investigation or calculation. Unlike every created being, God had no beginning, experienced no decline, and would have no end.

Elihu then illustrated God’s immeasurable greatness through His control of rain, clouds, thunder, and lightning. God had drawn up drops of water, distilled them into rain, and poured them abundantly upon humanity. Even these familiar features of creation involved workings that surpassed complete human understanding. If God’s works remained beyond exhaustive comprehension, how much more did the eternal God who performed them (Job 36:27–33).

In Job 36:26, Elihu affirmed that God’s greatness was beyond human measurement, His eternal existence was beyond calculation, and even His works in creation surpassed complete human understanding. Therefore, Job’s inability to comprehend God’s ways gave him reason not to question God, but to humbly trust and extol Him.

Theological Reflection

Job 36:26 reminds us that God is infinitely great and cannot be comprehended exhaustively by the finite human mind. We may know Him truly through what He has chosen to reveal, but the secret things remain with Him. We can never completely measure, master, or explain His being and ways. (Deuteronomy 29:29; Romans 11:33–34)

The reference to “the number of his years” also reminds us that God is eternal and exists beyond the limitations of time. His years cannot be counted because He has neither beginning nor end. Before creation existed, He was God, and when creation passes away, He will remain eternally unchanged. (Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17)

Because God’s greatness and ways surpass human understanding, He remains worthy of complete trust even when His purposes cannot be understood. The limitations of human knowledge never diminish His perfect wisdom, sovereign power, or faithful care. Those who suffer according to His will can entrust themselves to Him as their faithful Creator. (Isaiah 55:8–9; 1 Peter 4:19)

God is infinitely great and eternal. He is truly knowable because He has graciously revealed Himself, yet He can never be comprehended completely. His incomprehensible greatness and eternal nature provide the foundation for humble trust, worship, and obedience.

Applications

First, trust God’s wisdom.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.” – Isaiah 55:8

Our knowledge is limited, but God’s wisdom is infinite. When His purposes remain hidden and His ways are difficult to understand, He remains perfectly wise, sovereign, and faithful.

Entrust your unanswered questions and uncertain circumstances to God. Refuse to measure His goodness by what you presently understand. Rest in the truth that He knows completely what you can see only partially.

Second, praise God’s greatness.

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” – Psalm 145:3

God’s greatness is revealed in His works, yet it surpasses everything the human mind can comprehend. His eternal nature, sovereign power, and limitless understanding make Him worthy of continual worship.

Magnify God by remembering and praising His works. Allow the greatness you see in creation, Scripture, and His faithfulness in your life to deepen your reverence and worship.

Third, obey God’s Word.

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” – Deuteronomy 29:29

God has not revealed everything we may desire to know, but He has revealed everything necessary for faith and obedience. The secret things belong to Him, while what He has made known provides sufficient direction for His people.

Obey what God has clearly revealed instead of becoming preoccupied with what He has chosen to keep hidden. Follow His Word faithfully, even when He has not explained every detail of His ways.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for reminding us that You are infinitely great and eternal. Although we can know You truly through what You have revealed, Your greatness, wisdom, and ways remain beyond our complete understanding.

Forgive us for the times we have measured Your goodness by what we could understand or allowed unanswered questions to weaken our trust. By Your Holy Spirit, help us entrust every uncertainty and difficult circumstance to You. Remind us that our limited knowledge never diminishes Your perfect wisdom, sovereign power, or faithful care.

Teach us to praise Your greatness by remembering Your works in creation, Scripture, and our lives. Deepen our reverence and strengthen our confidence in You. Help us also to obey what You have clearly revealed instead of becoming preoccupied with what You have chosen to keep hidden. May we faithfully follow Your Word and confidently entrust the unknown to You, our infinitely great and eternal God.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.