We must not approach God as if He were somehow constrained by finite knowledge and by time. A useful and illustrative episode is the one involving the prophet Elisha and his young manservant. The prophet could see that a surrounded Israel need not fear. (2 Kings 5:15-17.) The alarmed younger man had to have his eyes opened, however, so he too could see that while the mountain was hostilely compassed about with horses and chariots of the enemy, it was also with horses and chariots of fire. Thus, even though the prophet said to the young man, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them,” he was still puzzling and doubting. Only when his eyes were opened could he see the reassuring reality. Often, so it is with us. We see dimly, or as Paul said, “Through a glass darkly.” (1 Corinthians 13:12.) Such is the relevance of seers. Such is the role of faith. In a very real sense, all we need to know is that God knows all!
If one searches for still other reasons to why the doctrine of the omniscience of God is a stumbling block for some, some of this is attributable to the democratic age we live in with its inordinate efforts at equalizing everything, rather than achieving justice. The deification of man and subsequent deep disappointment with man have both happened within decades of each other. It has been a terrible wrenching for the humanist and the optimist. The dashed plans of mankind have led many people to a despair and disappointment with life and with themselves. Mortals then impute their deficiencies, somehow, to Divinity.
Yet, was it not God who, from the beginning, reminded earthlings that the wisdom of men is foolishness? We are only discovering, afresh, what he has long told us about man’s puny efforts that do not rely upon Him. Mortals are fretting over the weakened arm of flesh, but God has told us for centuries to beware of those biceps!
This mortal shortfall not only results from the tiny data bank men have accumulated—compared to God’s—but it also occurs because of the quality and nature of such information as men have collected in that data bank. Mortals are, in fact, “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7.) So much of the secular data men have accumulated is accurate, but ultimately unimportant. Even learning useful things has often diverted mankind from learning crucial things.
Furthermore, let us not forget the great insight given us about the premortal world. The ascendancy of Jesus Christ (among all our spirit brothers and sisters) is clearly set forth. Of Him is was said that He is “more intelligent than they all.” (Abraham 3:19.) This means that Jesus knows more about astrophysics than all the humans that have ever lived, who live now, and who will yet live. Likewise, the same may be said about any other topic or subject. Moreover, what the Lord knows is, fortunately, vastly more—not just barely more—than the combination of what all mortals know. ~Elder Neal A. Maxwell, All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book; 1979), 20-22 (continued)
On 21 July 2004, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, passed away after an eight-year battle with leukemia. At the time of his death, he was with his family at his home in Salt Lake City. Elder Maxwell was 78 years old and had served as a General Authority for more than 30 years. He served as an Assistant to the Twelve, a member of the Presidency of the First Quorum of Seventy, and as an Apostle.
