We serve an infinite God. According to Psalm 147:5, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”

The concept of infinity is a fascinating topic that has baffled the greatest minds of history’s wisest philosophers and mathematicians, both ancient as well as modern. Sooner or later, every child will ask questions about matters involving infinity.

Many parents are often startled by the questions their children ask about infinity. Some of these questions may include examples such as “What is beyond the sky?” “How long is forever?” or “How many slices can you cut from a pie or circle?”

Whether considering the infinitely big or the infinitely small, our minds are awed by the concept of infinity. Mathematicians have devised the symbol ∞ to express infinity. There are many words that we can use to describe infinity. We can say that it is endless, boundless, limitless, or numberless. Notice that all of these descriptions use the ending –less in an attempt to describe the word. To define infinity without involving the ultimate infinite Being, the God of the Bible, is difficult. Let’s consider the ways we see God’s infinity.

God is . . .
Infinite in Greatness

Various languages have different ways to express comparisons. In English, we use the suffix –er to express comparison between two subjects. For example, Goliath was bigger than David. Likewise, we add –est to a word to express the superlative of a comparison. An example would be that the Holy of Holies in the inner court of the Temple was the holiest, or most holy, ground in Israel.

God is supremely and superlatively great. He described Himself as such in Deuteronomy 10:17, “For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.” God is not only great, but His greatness is infinite greatness.

Infinite in Power

When Jehovah was preparing His people to enter into the Promised Land, He comforted them with the reminder that His power was without limits. Speaking of the pagan tribes that Israel would encounter in the land of Canaan, the Lord said, “Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible” (Deuteronomy 7:21). Because our God is infinite in power, there is nothing that we as His children need to fear.

Infinite in Understanding

It is God’s understanding that is specifically described as “infinite” in Psalm 147:5, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” The Hebrew expression literally means “without numbering.” The understanding of God cannot be reckoned or counted in any way.

The infinite understanding of God baffles all human understanding. God not only knows all things that have happened, but He also knows all the things that could have, would have, might have happened—as well as what did and will happen—in all of human history. He knows the end of every road. He knows the consequence of every potential action. Thus, we must confess with the psalmist in Psalm 139:6, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

Infinite in Time

In one sense, man’s soul is eternal. He has a beginning, and his soul will live forever in the future. But only God is “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2). Man’s eternal life can be expressed by a mathematician as a ray, beginning at a specific, fixed point in time and going infinitely in one direction. However, God’s everlasting existence must be expressed as a line, which has no fixed point anywhere; His existence has no beginning, and it extends forever from eternity past to eternity future. We cannot even imagine life a trillion years ago, but we know that there and then was God! He is the Master of time and the Owner of infinity.

God’s attribute of infinity actually embraces many of the attributes that we have already studied. He is infinite in truth. He is infinite in His love. He is infinite in glory. He is infinite in holiness. He is infinite in goodness. He is infinite in grace, infinite in mercy, and infinite in faithfulness. God has no limits, save those that He has set for Himself. Even God’s infinity is infinite! He is infinite in everything that He is.

Our response to the infinity of God should be one of humility and reverence. We ought to think less of ourselves and focus our gaze more upon Him. As we do so, we will become slower to speak and more eager to listen. Rather than foolishly self-confident, we will grow more confident in Him. Truly, we should boast less of ourselves and boast more of the infinite greatness of our God!