“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.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)

This portion of Scripture follows a lengthy restatement of the covenant of God with His people, Israel. In this chapter, Moses reminds the people of the works that God wrought on their behalf in their deliverance from Pharaoh, in His provision for them in the wilderness, and in His protection on the battlefield (vv. 2–8).

In this final address, he encouraged them to “keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do” (v. 9), and he stated the various blessings that would be theirs if they would do so. Lastly, he described in graphic and burning words the results of breaking the covenant and incurring the judgment of God (vv. 18–27). “And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day” (v. 28).

Recognizing the limitations of humankind, Moses wrote in our text that there are certain things known only to God—things that cannot be understood by the human mind and things that He simply chooses to keep to Himself. But he goes on to say that He has revealed certain things to us, and these things we must obey. Consequently, our text consists of a great principle of life: we must do what we know to do. We don’t know everything, but we must act responsibly and properly on what He has told us, leaving the “secret things” and their consequences to God. Elsewhere, He promises that even the secret things will “work together for good to them that love God” in His sovereign plan (Romans 8:28). We must obey, doing what we know to do, and leave the results with Him. JDM