Mysterious Ways

     There is no Bible verse which says, hate the sin but love the sinner, although that idea is a thread throughout. Where is it? Everywhere! Likewise, neither is God works in mysterious ways in any one verse. That does not mean that God does not do things mysteriously.
     Paul spoke often of "the mystery of God," for instance in Colossians 2:2, and referred to that mystery in this passage: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory" (1 Cor 2:7).
     Paul revealed the mystery when he wrote, "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ" (Ephes 3:9). The mystery is that the entire Bible is about Jesus and his purpose. Paul revealed the mystery of God: it is really the mystery of Christ:

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephes 3:3-6).

     It seems that the mystery is that salvation is for everyone; not just particular people,  and it was by grace, and for all ages. Not only did Paul understand the mystery, but Jesus's beloved friend, John, revealed the mystery his Gospel chapter one; it was Jesus all the time!  In my mid-thirties, God revealed the mystery to me. I was not seeking hidden knowledge but it was as if a light shined. I finally understood the Old Testament; it was all about Jesus! Now when I read those mysterious passages, I ask myself, "What has this to do with Jesus?" Self answers me, and I understand the Word, which Paul revealed as Jesus Christ.
     The problem with Judaism, is that they don't know the mystery... never did! I'm referring to the teachers of the Law and the common Jew. They didn't understand God at all, to the extent that when the Messiah came, they could merely wonder, Who is this man who claims to be God? then deny him.
    The Church is made up of those who have had the mystery revealed. They understand that Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Those people are "partakers of his promise" and that is that the way and the truth provide life! The truth of the gospel is that it is not by the Law, but by grace you are saved (Ephes 2:8).
     The apostles understood the mystery; John and Paul more so than the others. There is a crystalline "sea of glass" on which God's throne sits with Jesus at His right hand (Rev 4:6). To see Jesus alongside God, Saul was blinded that he could see. In the darkness, he looked up unto the heaven and God showed His face to him. He saw the face of God, and that He is called Jesus.
     When Saul saw, he became a new person because he saw the Light clearly although blinded. He was born again, and with a new bright nature, Jesus renamed him Paul, as he had went from questioning to humbled. (The meaning of those names, respectively.) God revealed His mystery to him, and the mystery is Christ!
     Not only were the apostles the foundation of the church, laid from the Cornerstone, but so were the prophets:

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephes 2:19-21)

     The apostles know the mystery and so did the prophets. Isaiah revealed the mystery long before Saul was ever born:

15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. 19b I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 25 In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. (Isa 45; italics mine)

     Isaiah knew that God's Word was pre-incarnate Jesus because he has bright eyes. By that I mean, those who looked for truth and to whom truth was revealed. A prophet by definition, sees Truth.  God allows them to see Him clearly through that sea of glass for special reasons - to tell ancient men about the mystery of Christ.
     In the passages immediately preceding, Isaiah revealed the mystery. "The Word" is the coming Messiah. Few understood that hidden knowledge; those that did it was accounted to them as faith (righteousness), as it was with Abraham (Rom 4:3). I believe that Isaiah saw Jesus transfigured in a vision because he referred to the Savior's "glory." (My contention is that God glorified the Son of Man at the transfiguration as His Flesh was brought in proximity to the Father to prepare Jesus for the cross. It may be that the transformation was from Son of Man to Son of God!)
    The mystery of God and God hiding Himself must not be confused with the secret knowledge of the Gnostics. God is not secret. Even the stones shout out His Name:

And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. (Luke 19:39-40).

    The Word has been shouted since the beginning of the world, but few would hear the shout. Not only does it take bright eyes to see Jesus in God but astute ears to hear the shout. (Mat 11:15). If people are willing to listen, indeed, they shall hear. If they are willing to see, they shall see. Obedience is not the gospel; willingness to please God is!