simple past of God knows. An instance of sequence of tenses in free indirect speech, representing where the subject said or thought "God knows".
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see God, knew.
Source: en.wiktionary.orgGod knew where he was, but he asked so as to start a conversation with Adam and avoid startling him too much to reply. Rashi
God knew my needs and took care accordingly. Louis Zamperini
Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently He thought it worth the risk. C. S. Lewis
I believe God knew what he was doing when he put oil under our ground. It should be a means to an end. Olusegun Obasanjo
SCARABAEUS, n. The sacred beetle of the ancient Egyptians, allied to our familiar 'tumble-bug.' It was supposed to symbolize immortality, the fact that God knew why giving it its peculiar sanctity. Ambrose Bierce