Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.
עֹשֶׂ֣ה גְ֭דֹלוֹת עַד־אֵ֣ין חֵ֑קֶר וְ֝נִפְלָא֗וֹת עַד־אֵ֥ין מִסְפָּֽר׃
5 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Is it not true that what I have previously mentioned (Job 5:9) is indeed profound, belonging to the inscrutable, even while being evident? Furthermore, is the unseen not even more so? Notice: he discusses not the essence but solely His deeds. "And why," he inquires, "should we enumerate each one? The works of God are magnificent, unfathomable, and countless!"
You are familiar with the affirmations of the esteemed Job regarding God. After exalting and venerating Him with a wealth of expressive language, he ultimately summarizes his adoration by stating, “You do great and unsearchable things, glorious and exceedingly great, which are without number. For though numbers are incalculable and boundless, allowing for infinite growth, the works of God surpass every conceivable measure. Consequently, if these are indeed God's works, how much greater must He be Himself?
What might seem unfathomable or infinite to any person is minimal in comparison to God, both in quantity, as indicated here, and in magnitude, as reflected in the psalm that declares His greatness: Great is the Lord, and greatly praised, and of His greatness there is no end (Psalm 144:3). He transcends all praise, is more wonderful than any wonder, more glorious than every form of glory, and higher than any height. As it is written, “Fearful is the Lord, and great is He, and marvelous is His might. If you praise the Lord, lift up as much as you can; He will always surpass (Sir. 43:31-32). Selecting from the sacred texts to produce beautiful hymns of celebration would prove to be a challenging task, for all these hymns exceed God in His glory and majesty.
Who performs extraordinary acts, unfathomable; indeed, and miracles without end! Job 9:10. For it is when we recognize the limitations of our understanding that we reflect more deeply on the deeds of the Divine Majesty; in moments of wonder, we articulate our thoughts with greater eloquence in our silence, overwhelmed by awe. In attempting to express the marvelous works of God, we reveal our own weakness, as humanity struggles to articulate what it cannot fully grasp, finding that the inability to explain allows for deeper glorification. Thus, the Psalmist rightly declared, Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to the abundance of his greatness Psalms 150:2.
To praise God in accordance with the vastness of his greatness is to acknowledge the futility of one’s own attempt to fully express such praise. Hence, one can proclaim, Who performs extraordinary acts, unfathomable; indeed, and miracles without end! It is to assert that greatness pertains to His power, unfathomable relates to His understanding, and ‘without number’ pertains to His vastness. Therefore, the works of God, which elude our spoken comprehension, are better exalted through our silence. Yet, when we contemplate all that exists, why do we search so far afield, when we remain unaware of the mysteries occurring within ourselves?
The one who is truly great inherently performs great deeds; however, not every action of greatness requires the doer to be esteemed. These concepts are not interchangeable. In their act of greatness, the disciples drew upon the strength of the Almighty. To illustrate this, consider that a grammarian composes text by adhering to grammatical principles. Nevertheless, possessing the ability to write proficiently does not stem solely from knowledge of grammar; it is also influenced by chance and talent. Thus, in regards to greatness, it is evident that only those who are genuinely great consistently achieve great things. In much the same manner, through the magnificence of creation, we are able to perceive glimpses of God's nature, allowing us to form an understanding of Him.
Job expressed this truth so his companions, who believed they knew the cause of his afflictions, might recognize that He who performs magnificent, awe-inspiring, and profound works also holds incomprehensible plans that are simultaneously full of glory. Similarly, Paul articulates, ‘Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are His ways and unsearchable are His judgments! For who has known the mind of the Lord?’ (Rom. 11:33-34).
Job acknowledges with his companions that he cannot defend his stance before the Almighty, who reveals His wisdom and might through natural phenomena such as earthquakes, storms, and the splendid heavens adorned with brilliant stars. God does not owe explanations for His ways to anyone. Thus, it is wiser to concede our faults to Him rather than engage in dispute with the Creator. This is precisely what Job desires to do, even as he maintains his innocence. He observes how the upright frequently face scorn from the unrighteous, and he himself endures suffering without guilt.
He finds himself resigned to the unfortunate reality of having to confess his culpability before God, a situation that would be different if a mediator existed who could bridge the gap between man and God, capable of rendering judgment on both parties, and if God were to withhold His disciplinary hand from him.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS