03062021 Elusive Wisdom

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our wise God. I'm so glad His wisdom exceeds my own! And I'm thankful that such a wise God helps me along my path.

Lesson #28. Valuable but elusive wisdom is found in fearing God, who is its source. Who needs wisdom in the midst of trials? Only everyone. Wisdom is essential, but man is often left with the helpless statement: "I don't know what to do." In chapter 28, Job gives a wonderful treatise regarding wisdom.

Although Job doesn't start here, I want to start with the recognition of the extreme value of wisdom. Job describes it as priceless. "It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold" (vs. 15-19). Wisdom is valuable because it is indispensable. Wisdom makes the difference between knowing or not knowing how to handle life, and the impact of that knowledge is vast.

Wisdom is necessary, but it is hard to find. Job asks the question, "Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?" (v. 20). Man does not naturally have wisdom. "Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air" (v. 21).

Job gives an extended description and build-up to illustrate how elusive wisdom is. His approach is that there are lots of things that are hard to access that man has nevertheless accessed. Verses 1-11 develop this illustration. He talks about resources hidden deep in the earth, such as silver, gold, iron, and copper. He describes how man finds ways to mine those valuables. Man melts it or carves it out of rock, he searches far and wide, he sinks shafts deep into the darkness, even hanging in precarious positions to gather the resources. In his quest for these valuables, man goes where birds cannot go and where beasts do not venture. He overturns mountains, diverts channels of water, and successfully gathers these resources for his own benefit.

Truly man's ability to achieve what he wants is phenomenal. Out of greed, necessity, or desperation, man has accomplished much that seems impossible. But finding gold and sapphires is one thing; finding wisdom is something else entirely. Job concludes his recounting of man's successful efforts with this reality: "But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living" (vs. 12-13). Man knows gold is valuable and knows where to find it, but when it comes to wisdom, man fails to grasp the value and cannot find it in all the regular treasure houses. It isn't in the depths of the earth or the sea (v. 14).

Where then is wisdom? "God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof, for he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven" (vs. 23-24).

When God made the earth and designed the weather patterns, He displayed His wisdom (vs. 25-26). Ever since the creation of the world, wisdom has belonged to God. "Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out" (v. 27). Wisdom has always been with God, fully known by Him, designed by Him, and declared by Him.

So man needs wisdom, and God has wisdom. How do the two connect? "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding" (v. 28). Wisdom is neither man-created or man-discovered. Wisdom is divinely created and divinely revealed. Man will not find wisdom except by seeking it from God. Man must be so humble, so dependent, so reverent toward God that he desires to know God's truth above all else and to walk in God's ways instead of his own. A man thus dependent and dedicated to God will find wisdom.

In the midst of a trial, what does that look like? Something like this humble prayer: "Father, I don't know what to do, but I want to do the right thing, because I love and fear You. I don't want to mess this up, but I need Your help. Please guide me."

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). God doesn't want us to do the wrong thing either. He wants us to do the right thing, to have victory, to please Him through our trial. A God with such desires will gladly give wisdom to those who humbly and dependently seek it. May God's wisdom guide, comfort, and support you this week.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA