The phrase "The ways of the Lord are inscrutable": what does this mean, the history of origin

The wisdom of the Bible is not questioned eventhose who do not consider themselves believers. In a difficult situation, ordinary people, enjoying a previously mundane life, turn to the Holy Scriptures to find comfort and hope in it. Quite often, the phrase "The ways of the Lord are inscrutable" comes across to the suffering. What does it mean? How to understand and interpret this very common expression? In this article, we will try to make sure that you never again wonder about what "Inscrutable ways of the Lord" are.

The Bible is the source of wisdom

Preachers say that the Lord Himselfdirects a person at the right time to the Bible and opens before him the very page, the lines from which will pour balm on the wounded soul. Therefore do not think, having found in the Holy Scripture the phrase "The ways of the Lord are inscrutable", what does it mean. Be sure - it is directly related to your life and the events taking place in it. Otherwise, why would this expression have caught your eye?

Not every philistine correctly understands what the phrase "God's ways are inscrutable" means. Even fewer people know where it came from. Let's clarify this difficult question.

Where did the expression "The ways of the Lord come from?" Are inscrutable?

This phrase is also used by clergymen,and ordinary lay people. Most often it is used as a comforting word in sermons and in personal conversation. Few people think about where in the New Testament it can be found and in what context it was used for the first time.

If you open the Bible in the Epistle of the ApostlePaul to the Romans, you will find the following text: "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God, how incomprehensible are His judgments and unsearchable His ways!" This verse can be considered the first application of the phrase "The ways of the Lord are inscrutable," the meaning of which does not change from the formulation of the expression itself.

The fact is that the interpretation of many words from the Biblehas no analogues in the Russian language. Therefore, Orthodox clergymen had to choose more understandable and close-sounding substitute words. Not surprisingly, the biblical expression has undergone some changes and now sounds different than in the original source.

What does the expression "Inscrutable ways of the Lord" mean?

It is difficult to interpret biblical wisdom, because preachers believe that it is necessary to perceive it with soul and heart. But we will still try to understand the true meaning of the expression.

If you carefully read the source, that isThe New Testament, it will be understood that the Apostle Paul admires the Lord's purposes. He does not offer to follow His plans, but admits that they are difficult to understand for an ordinary person. And do not even try to understand what way God will lead you. In addition, many Christian preachers warn people against trying to look into God's plans. Otherwise, the pride of a person can be punished, and therefore they teach the person with phrases about the unsearchability of God's craft.

In modern Russian the word "unsearchable"has long been replaced by "inscrutable." It is much clearer in terms of sounding, and the meaning of the phrase remains the same - a person should trust God and everything that happens in his life is perceived with gratitude and humility. It is the humble Lord, according to the Scriptures, who reveals his plans, but not always.

If you still have a hard time understanding what it meansthe expression "The ways of the Lord are inscrutable," then draw a parallel with the no less famous proverb "Everything that is done is all for the best." Both of these expressions show that everything in the life of a person goes according to God's intended plan and his will simply needs to be trusted.

In what sense is the common biblical phrase used?

We already understand where the phrase came from in the "people""God works in mysterious ways". What does this mean in today's world? How different is the understanding of the expression of today's people from the Orthodox believers of the past centuries? Priests believe that the difference is significant.

Previously, people were easier to trust in the plans of God andobeyed all the changes in their lives. Believers were convinced that they had defined their way from above, and it only leads to the salvation of the soul. There was virtually no desire to argue with God and His plans. There are cases when the most severe trials that fell to a person, passed with dignity, prayer and gratitude, brought a person to a new level of life. And then people said that God led the person to happiness, or they said that the ways of the Lord are inscrutable. What this means, no one even thought, so strong was the belief in God's plans.

Of course, now few can boast of suchstrong faith. No wonder so much misfortune and misfortune occurs in people's lives. According to the priests, until a person puts his life in the hands of God and passes all the planned milestones of the path, he will be put to the test. In the modern world, we quite often say a well-known phrase as sympathy or consolation when we do not know how to explain an unpleasant incident and encourage a person. It does not sound in her former admiration and reverent trembling before the plans of God, only the recognition of his weakness and helplessness before the highest forces.

"The ways of the Lord are inscrutable" - the fundamental phrase of Christianity

Many scholars who pay great attentionBible study, believe that there is a list of phrases that most accurately characterize the meaning of Christianity. What does the phrase "The ways of the Lord are inscrutable" mean in this sense?

Everything is more than simple, but surprisingly at the same time.It is difficult to understand the independent and self-confident inhabitants of the twenty-first century. The theologians say that humility before God is expressed in gratitude for everything that comes into life. After all, only the Lord knows the past, present and future. He knows how to avoid dangers and temptations or what path to take. Therefore, in many parables it is explained how it is necessary to pass tests in order to find happiness. They are able to allegorize the importance of accepting the will of the Lord.

Parable about the elder and the angel

On the topic of our article there are many legendsbut one parable very colorfully describes how little we see and understand in what is happening around us. According to this parable, the old man, wise with gray hair, could not understand the injustices of our world and constantly appealed to the Almighty with questions and laments. One day, he found a nearby angel commanding an old man to climb a tree and watch what happens below for three days. The sage obeyed and on the first day saw the rich rider lose a bag of gold. On the second day, a farmer found gold, crouching under a tree. On the third day a beggar came to the tree and eagerly began to eat food, forgotten by a happy peasant. But to his misfortune the rider returned and killed the beggar, believing that he had stolen the lost bag of money. After these events, the old man climbed down from the tree in tears and deep indignation. He was ready to renounce his faith, seeing such an injustice, but the angel stopped him and explained the essence of what was happening. He said that a rich rider is a cruel tax collector who ruins people. And he killed a former robber who prayed for death in atonement for his past sins. After this murder, the tax collector will repent of his deed and turn to God. And the farmer was almost ruined by exorbitant taxes, and a bag of gold saved his entire family from imminent death.

“The ways of the Lord are inscrutable” - what this means, we think, will become even clearer after reading the next parable.

Hermit monk sleep

In one of the caves for many years righteous and inprayer lived a hermit monk. But the plans of God did not give him peace; he dreamed of penetrating into their essence and possessing knowledge. One day a man came to him in a dream and called for him. The monk spent three days with him on the road, and each of them brought him ever greater disappointment in his faith. On the first night, a monk’s companion stole a golden cup from a peasant’s house, presented by a neighbor in honor of reconciliation after a long quarrel. After the second night, he set fire to the poor man’s shelter hut. And on the morning of the third day I asked the conductors for the son of one of the peasants who had given them shelter, and threw him into the turbulent river. All the indignation of the monk, he stopped the phrase about the plans of God.

At the end of the road, the man revealed to the old man the truethe meaning of things that happened during the trip. As it turned out, the golden cup was poisoned, and on the ashes of his house a beggar would find a rich treasure hidden by his ancestors, and completely change his life. And the lost child at the instigation of his father was to become a bloodthirsty robber and destroy several thousand innocent souls. After the death of the only son, the father will greatly grieve and become the most devout man in his village. He will be able to help many with advice and deed and will die in old age.

After this story, the mysterious man disappeared, and the monk awoke. Since then, he has learned to trust the Lord without asking for explanations.

Conclusion

Summarizing everything written, I want to saythat faith in God implies blind trust. You should not look for meaning in what is happening in your life. After all, even negative situations lead to a happy ending. Do not allow pride and do not try to decide their own destiny. Remember - the ways of the Lord are mysterious.