Like a flickering candle caught in a gale, so is mankind's attempt to fathom the depths of God's ways. The finite mind of man is unable to grasp the ways of an infinitely more intelligent God. Yea, without His help, it is an impossible task destined for the graveyards of thought. Our attempt to understand God and His ways is an exercise in futility when the only resource is human logic and ability. Myriad misunderstandings and erroneous beliefs arise when we are limited to our own meager resources.
Biblical truth is occasionally paradoxical.
When an unregenerate person attempts to understand God without the illuminating work of the Spirit of God, the result is confusion. A definition of paradox captures the essence of the problem in understanding many truths of Scripture. The Bible is replete with truths that don't make any sense to people who have not experienced the regenerating work of the Spirit of God in accepting Jesus as Messiah and Lord. It matters not how religious, scholarly, educated, or devoted people are. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned.