What is a basic principle for understanding when God reveals things in His Word?
A basic principle is that God has the prerogative to keep things secret and reveals them only when He is ready. He does not reveal everything all at once, but at the right time. This applies to understanding His Word, as seen when even the Twelve did not understand until He revealed it.
Les explains that Deuteronomy 29:29 ties revelation and secret together: the secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children forever, so that we may do all the words of this law. Though written to Israel, it still shows God's attribute and prerogative to keep things secret; He does not have to reveal until He is good and ready. Les calls this one of the basic things to understand the Word of God: He does not reveal everything all the way up, but reveals it at the right time. In Luke 18:31, at the end of His earthly ministry shortly before going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the Twelve and said all things written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man would be accomplished. Les points out God actually kept things secret from the Twelve that they did not understand until He was ready to reveal it, showing prophecy must be fulfilled.
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
More Questions
Why doesn't God reveal everything in the Bible all at once?
God does not have to reveal something until He is good and ready; He does not reveal everything all at once but reveals it at the right time, and understanding this is one of the basic things for understanding the Word of God.