God's Infinite Intelligence: Thought and Purpose Made Manifest

"As I have thought, so shall it come to pass." This declaration from Isaiah unveils the nature of Elohim's infinite intelligence. To think and to purpose are attributes of all rational beings—created or uncreated. Yet God stands apart in His perfection: His thoughts and purposes are co-eternal with Himself. A French schoolchild, when asked whether God reasons, answered with remarkable insight: "No; God is too perfect to reason. He knows everything without reasoning." Newton himself could not have answered better.

God's thoughts flow exclusively from Himself, making them absolute and unconditional—a necessity that does not diminish human accountability. His purposes are infinitely glorious, worthy of His own perfections. In fulfilling His thoughts and purposes, He develops all the beauty of His perfections and confers every good upon His creatures.

Two axioms unlock difficult Scripture: All good flows from God; all evil originates from the creature. God's sovereign purpose, properly understood, comprises nothing but good. What does it chiefly manifest? A Saviour. We were permitted to fall into deepest guilt that Yahweh might display His glory utterly in our salvation.

The wheels of a watch move contrary to one another—some forward, some backward—yet all serve the maker's intent. So too in God's providence: though circumstances appear to run cross to His promises, good men and wicked men moving in opposite directions, all ultimately accomplish His will and centre in the purpose of the great Creator of all things.