The Omniscience of God

Omniscience — the attribute of knowing all things — belongs to God alone. It encompasses past, present, and future, both the actual and the potential, and sets the Creator apart from every created being who possesses only limited knowledge.

The Scope of Divine Knowledge

God's knowledge is exhaustive and immediate. He sees everything that man does and knows the secrets of every heart. Nothing is hidden from His sight — He discerns the number of our days, the thoughts we have not yet spoken, and the motives we have not yet examined (Job 34:21; Ps 44:21, 94:11, 139:15–16, 147:5; Mt 10:29–30; Heb 4:13). Even the sparrows and the hairs on our heads are numbered in His awareness.

Trust your life into the hands of the all-knowing God

Satan, by contrast, possesses only limited knowledge. Had he understood the full scope of God's redemptive plan, he would not have pursued the crucifixion of Christ — the very means by which his own defeat was secured (1 Cor 2:8; Heb 2:14). This distinction underscores that true omniscience is the exclusive possession of the Almighty.

Nothing catches God off guard

Living Under Omniscience

The Lord knows all about us and those who are His. We are invited to ask Him to reveal what is offensive so that steps can be taken to correct these defects (Ps 139:1–2, 4, 23–24; 2 Tim 2:19). He already knows the path we should take, and has planned and provided for us to walk through every situation in the victory He has made available. It is up to us to continually draw on those resources, living and walking in close fellowship with Him by the enabling of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16; Eph 5:18).

We can draw on His knowledge and wisdom; however, as there are many things we are not able to fully discern — for His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours — we should not resort to ungodly means such as occult powers of divination to obtain what has not been revealed (Deut 29:29; Isa 55:9).

Walk by His revealed will

God often gives indicators of what is about to happen by communicating His plans to those with a prophetic voice, and we can all ask for a discernment of His will (Amos 3:7; Act 1:24, 15:8). To a large measure His revealed will is outlined in His instruction book for life — the Bible — and even those with limited understanding will not err from walking in ways pleasing to God if they live by its directives (Isa 35:8; 2 Tim 3:16–17).

The Intimacy of Omniscience

Although He is all-knowing, God still loves to hear what is on our heart as we converse with Him in our thoughts and prayers (Ps 4:4, 77:6; Rom 1:10; 1 Thes 5:17; 1 Jn 3:20). His omniscience is not a cold surveillance but an intimate attentiveness — He knows us fully and loves us completely. This truth invites honesty rather than fear: since nothing can be hidden from Him, we are free to come before Him with open hearts, trusting that the One who knows us best is the One who cares for us most.

He knows you fully and loves you completely

Reflection and Application:

How does the reality that God sees the secrets of your heart change the way you approach Him in prayer?
In what area of life are you relying on your own limited understanding rather than committing your path to His guidance?
Are there ways in which you have sought knowledge or direction from sources other than God's revealed will?
How might the intimacy of God's all-knowing care bring freedom and honesty to your daily walk with Him?

See also: discernment, divination, God, omnipotent, omnipresent.