ECCLESIASTES 8.16-17

16.When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to observe the business that is done on earth, the eyes not seeing sleep day or night [working night and day],

17. Then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he cannot really comprehend it.

People wonder at the state of the world, and the contradictions of wealth and poverty, love and hatred, joy and sorrow, knowledge and ignorance, wisdom and foolishness – and the place of God in all of it.

Indeed, such are the complexities and contradictions of life that, despite his diligent study and great wisdom, even Solomon could not fully fathom the work of God, as we read earlier -- finally realizing that even if he studied night and day, and never slept, he still would never find out or fully understand the work that is done under the sun.

Paul likewise, despite his great revelations, was forced to conclude, with particular reference to the calling of some and the spiritual blindness of others, Quote: “How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).

Just as a small child trusts his parents, so must we rely on the immense power and infinite knowledge and love of our heavenly Father – and walk in faith, even when we cannot comprehend what is happening to us.

Faith, which has been a fundamental characteristic of righteous people since the beginning, is the sole subject of eleventh chapter of Paul’s letter to the Hebrews – where he says, Quote: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, and anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Faith is also a fundamental theme of the Gospels, and it is interesting that first occurrence of the word is found in the section already quoted where Jesus urges the disciples not to be consumed by worry about the material things of life and food -- pointing out that even Solomon in all his finery was not arrayed as beautifully as God adorns the flowers and even the grasses of the fields. “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,” says Jesus, “which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30).

That faith, however, may be tested by all manner of difficult trials, as Peter explains when he says, Quote: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith -- which is of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine, and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7).