What does Paul mean by the depth of the riches of God's wisdom and knowledge in Romans 11:33?
Paul means God's wisdom and knowledge are unfathomably deep because He turned Israel's covenant stumbling and rejection of Messiah into salvation for the Gentiles. No human would have conceived such a plan; it is beyond us and originates only in God, who worked through their fall to extend salvation to the Gentiles.
Les explains that Romans 11:33 is Paul's closing exclamation after discussing Israel's stumbling. This depth of God's riches, wisdom, and knowledge is all beyond us. God had taken a covenant people, given them promises through the patriarchs and prophets, and dealt with them on covenant ground through their Messiah. Yet they crucified Him and cried out in total rebellion, away with Him. God then said that because they did this, salvation would go to the Gentiles. Les says no one would have ever thought of such a thing—no one but God—yet this is what God did.
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
More Questions
Can we comprehend the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge?
We cannot even come close to comprehending God's wisdom; His judgments are unsearchable and His ways are past finding out.