Jeremiah 33:3 How God Reveals Great and Unsearchable Things
- Trace Pirtle
- Jul 30
- 8 min read
Get clear answers to the most common questions about Jeremiah 33:3 that aren't being addressed in Sunday sermons. Discover what the 'great and unsearchable things' really mean, whether this verse applies to you today, and practical steps for calling out to God. If you're asking questions about this captivating verse that traditional Christianity won't answer, you're not alone.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1
Are you searching for answers to questions about Jeremiah 33:3 because you haven't found the answers at church? Or perhaps you've asked questions and found the answers incomplete. Maybe you, like many of us, are searching for answers beyond the church walls of Christendom, but well within the pages of God's Word, the Holy Bible.
I can't promise you that my responses will be any more satisfactory; however, you may discover that the questions we have and our approach to hearing God's responses are not that far apart. So, if you are willing to invest a bit of your time, let's see if we can discover some great and unsearchable mysteries known to God, and ones He willingly shares with us.
You may be wondering why I used John 1:1 as our cornerstone scripture verse. After all, this post is about Jeremiah 33:3, isn't it? It is, but to answer the questions many have about this captivating and mysterious verse, we need to first lay a foundation to build upon. What better foundation than John 1:1? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
It is undeniable that John was referring to Jesus as "The Word." This is a critically important truth, because if we believe it, we must then acknowledge that Jesus…The Word…is not only present, but is the Ultimate Author of all Scripture from the first word "In" Genesis 1:1 to the last word "Amen" in Revelation 22:21.
Further, we are assured by the author of Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." And since we accept that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" 2 Timothy 3:16, then we can assume that Jeremiah 33:3 was written as much for us today as it was for Jeremiah around 588-586 BC. This makes answering our first question much easier.
Who is being addressed, and what is the context of Jeremiah 33:3?
God (Jesus) is speaking directly to the prophet Jeremiah. God is reassuring Jeremiah that He is going to restore His nation. Jeremiah, who is now in prison, still questions how God could restore a nation destined for doom. And here is where God challenges Jeremiah and says:
"Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" - Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)
If you notice, different Bible versions use slightly different adjectives to describe the "things" God will reveal, if He is asked. The King James Version (KJV) says "Mighty" things; The English Standard Version (ESV) uses "Hidden" things; the New International Version (NIV 1984) describes them as "Unsearchable" things. Regardless, God is telling Jeremiah, and by extension, us, that only He has the answers that are otherwise inaccessible. Again, we reflect on 2 Timothy 3:16 that assures us that ALL Scripture is inspired and profitable, then and now. Therefore, God is using His Divine Intervention with Jeremiah to teach all of us something about His immutable character. God is addressing all of us in Jeremiah 33:3.
What does the "great and unsearchable things" phrase mean?
By definition, "great and unsearchable things" means just that…we don't know the answer to the question(s) we have, and we can't find the answers without God. No books, no Google, no AI could ever provide answers to great and unsearchable things.
And if Jeremiah 33:3 were limited to a single conversation between God and Jeremiah about what would happen to His nation, then for us, it would no longer be great and unsearchable! We know the rest of that story. No. The spiritual truths revealed by God through His prophet Jeremiah must transcend time, space, and place. Jeremiah's "great and unsearchable" things can be no different from ours. History, while great, is searchable. And while we can calculate probabilities and forecast future outcomes, they are still only approximations of what may happen. But God knows the future with absolute certainty. If it is His will, He can answer our unsearchable questions if we ask.
But beware…some questions you may not want to ask because you can't stand the answer.
Can this verse be applied personally today?
If you are not only a person of faith, but one who follows a logical flow, then we must accept that God wants us to see ourselves in Jeremiah 33:3. This is not eisegesis. We are told,
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleans your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded" James 4:8 (NKJV).
Ouch! The first sentence is comforting. The second is convicting! We satisfy the first condition, "Call to Me," when we draw near to God, but how can we expect Him to tell us mighty things when we are double-minded, not even sure if this verse applies to us?
No wonder we only get static when we try to dial in His frequency. We can't hear Him clearly because we don't know where to point the receiver. He isn't "out there," He is "In here," just as He was with Jeremiah. The difference? Jeremiah knew it. Do we?
Let's say a brother or sister still isn't convinced that Jeremiah 33:3 applies to them as much as it did to Jeremiah. Let's imagine that we are given a ringside seat to witness John 8:1-11. The woman has been caught–naked as a jaybird- in the act of adultery.
The crowd, likely us, is ready to stone her for her sin. But Jesus' words are on the tongues of nearly all believers 2000 + years in the future, "Go and sin no more." Now, if one would argue that God was only speaking to Jeremiah and not us as well, then are we to believe that Jesus was speaking solely to that adulterous woman?
Or what about the Parable of the Talents we read of in Matthew 25:14-30? Jesus was speaking to His disciples on the Mount of Olives before His crucifixion. Are we to believe that this allegory was limited to the first disciples and not His contemporary disciples as well?
Rest assured, you and I can apply Jeremiah 33:3 to our lives as Jeremiah did to his.
What type of 'hidden things' might God reveal in modern times?
This is a great question. It's a question that may differ from one believer to the next and may depend on one's heart and rationale for asking "The Question." Let's look at some examples of what might NOT be revealed in modern times:
Who will win the next Kentucky Derby? A lot of money is riding on those horses. Let's ask God…He knows!
When is Jesus coming back? Not going to be answered. Just be ready.
Where is the best place to eat Chinese food in Detroit? God says, "Google it, dude!"
Should I divorce my loving spouse because I no longer feel "fulfilled?" God says, "This is not an unsearchable question…read, for example, Matthew 5:31-32 or 1 Corinthians 7:15."
If we approach God with questions like some do a Ouija Board, a trance channel, or Dr. Phil, don't be surprised if you get nothing but static. Our heart, mind, and Spirit must be aligned with God to approach Him as we learned in James 4:8 above. If we do, I'll share with you some of the unsearchable questions I had:
Why am I feeling like a "church outsider" even though I've accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior?
Are all believers "expected" to be in a local church every Sunday?
Why are Christian Mystics, who want a pure relationship with You, shunned like a leper at a BBQ? I thought Christianity is all about the "relationship," Not the religion?
Why is it so hard to "go and make disciples" if I'm an ambassador of Christ?
How do I put into practice "my" walk with You, rather than another's walk with You?
Is there a continuum of believers…each aligned with You…but express their faith differently as we expand the Kingdom? How do we know what that is?
How can we determine how many "talents" we've been given, and how can we invest them wisely?
God will provide answers to these types of questions. He has for me.
Practical steps for 'calling out' to God
It's possible that the following steps may resonate with some and not with others. Why? Aren't all Christians alike in how they call out to God? If He made each one of us different, gave us all a unique fingerprint, doesn't it follow that we can approach Him differently without Him saying "that's not the way we do it around here!"
Still, some common steps may be common to all. Here are a few for you to consider:
Make sure you call out to Jesus. Identify Him by name.
Humble yourself before Him. There's a reason we are told, "fear is the beginning of wisdom."
Thank Him in advance for hearing your prayer/question.
Ask only if it aligns with His Plan.
Accept His answer on His timeframe. Don't expect a genie in a bottle.
Acknowledge that only He can open the door to mysterious things in the future.
Be open to the myriad ways He could answer your prayer/question. Many of my unsearchable questions have been answered through Divine Appointments and Divine Interventions. Many may go unnoticed if we don't expect God to respond as He promises.
When you begin to practice these steps with a sincere heart, you'll discover that the same Jesus who spoke "great and unsearchable things" to Jeremiah is eager to reveal mysteries to you as well. The Word who was with God and was God hasn't changed - He's still speaking to those who call out to Him with genuine faith.
"Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." - Matthew 17:20
Even if your faith feels as small as a mustard seed right now, Jesus promises that nothing will be impossible for you. The great and unsearchable things you're seeking aren't reserved for ancient prophets or spiritual giants - they're available to every believer who calls out to The Word with authentic faith.
If you've felt like a church outsider while being a Christ insider, you're not alone. You're not a misfit - you're a pilgrim finding your way home to an authentic relationship with Jesus beyond religious performance. The Bridge that I discuss elsewhere IS Jesus, and He spans every gap between seeking hearts and the Father's mysteries.
Ready to discover your spiritual temperament and find your place in God's family? Take the Cross-Quadrant Assessment and begin your journey from seeking to belonging.
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About the Author
Trace Pirtle is a Christ-centered writer and a fellow pilgrim on the narrow path. He encourages believers to move beyond religious routine into a deeper, daily walk with Jesus.
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