Why is it dangerous to think that we can understand the providence of God?

St. John Chrysostom answers: “What then, is the cause of such a sickness? It is an inquisitive and curious mind, it is wanting to know all the causes of everything that happens, it is questioning the incomprehensible and unspeakable providence of God, and it is shamelessly investigating and being inquisitive about that which is limitless and unsearchable .

“Indeed, who was wiser than Paul? For tell me, was he not a chosen vessel (Acts 9:15)? Did he not acquire the abundant and ineffable grace of the Spirit? Did he not have Christ speaking in him? Did he not partake of the unutterable words of God? Did not he alone hear that which it is not lawful for any man to speak? Was he not carried up to the third heaven?

545 W. E. G. Floyd, Clement of Alexandria's treatment of the problem of evil (London: Oxford University Press, 1971): p. 40 (bold emphasis added).

546 John Patrick, Clement of Alexandria (William Blackwell and Sons, 1914): p. 90.

547 St. Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen 9 (ANF 2:195) amended.

Did he not traverse the earth and sea? Did he not persuade uncivilized people to follow Christ? Did he not possess many and various powers of the Spirit? … But nevertheless, such a great and surpassing man who was so wise, so strong, so spiritual, who had the benefit of so much, when he fell into scrutinizing the providence of God—and not His entire providence but only a portion of it—listen to how he was astounded, how he became dizzy, how he swiftly turned away, yielding before the incomprehensible … in considering only one portion of God’s providence, regarding the Jews and the Greeks—since Paul gave a whole discourse about this, demonstrating how God called those from among the nations, how He rejected those from among the Jews, and how He mercifully brought about the salvation of each— listen to what Paul says. Beholding a yawning sea and in it this one portion, and wanting to peer into the depth of God’s providence regarding it, as if possessed by a certain dizziness before the ineffability of God’s economy, amazed and astonished at the unspeakableness, the limitlessness, the ineffability, and the incomprehensibility of the wisdom and providence of God, he turned away and with great amazement cried out, uttering these words: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! (Rom. 11:33).

“Then, showing that although he saw the depth, he was not able to measure it, he added: How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Rom. 11:33) … he ends his discourse with a doxology, which he introduces by saying: Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Or who has first given unto Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Whom be glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:34–36). What he means is this: God is the Source, He is the Cause of good things; He needs no partner, He needs no counselor. He acts and works wonders without borrowing intelligence or understanding from anyone. He Himself is the Beginning, the Cause, and the Source of all good things; He Himself is the Creator, He Himself brought into being that which had not existed; and He Himself directs, orders, and maintains that which He brought into being, as He wishes. The words Of Him and through Him and to Him are all things declare that God is the Cause and the Creator of that which exists, Who governs and sustains all things.”⁵⁴⁸