Focal passage: Job 28:12-28
After I finished my Bible study one Sunday evening, I welcomed a time of discussion for our congregation. I had just articulated how God loves the nations, which should lead us to love them and lead them to Christ, beginning with our neighbors. One member spoke up. They told me I was wrong to tell them to reach their neighbors when many other things within the church commanded our attention. Then, they gave their reason for why I was apparently mistaken, “You are young. You just don’t understand things yet.” In their mind, I wasn’t wise, and it was the fault of my age. Consequently, their words revealed where they thought wisdom comes from: age.
I didn’t respond to that person that night (1 Timothy 4:12). But their words led me on a quest to answer this question: where does wisdom come from? Job asked the same question, albeit under entirely different circumstances. Amidst his suffering, Job’s “friends” again accused him of sin (Job 22:1-31:40). While Job’s friends thought they were offering wisdom, he knew their words could not enlighten the unwise (26:1-4).
So, Job raised the question, “Where can wisdom be found?” (28:12a). He knew that wisdom (pleasing God through applying knowledge) is invaluable (28:15-19) and undiscoverable among humans, on earth, in the sky, in life or in death (28:13-14, 20-22).
“From where, then, does wisdom come?” Job asked (28:20). His answer: God (28:23). Unlike mankind, only God sees all things (28:24) and has all power (28:25-27). Therefore, only God understands the way to wisdom.
Like Job’s friends, we are in desperate need of wisdom. By nature, we are fools who cannot please God (Romans 1:22-23). Yet, God has given Christ to rescue us from our foolishness. For the cross is “the power and wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). To receive this wisdom, we must fear God and turn from evil (Job 28:28). As we abandon sin and trust in Christ, His wisdom becomes ours. And thus we learn that wisdom isn’t found among humanity, in the sky, in life or in death. It’s not even found with age. Rather, wisdom comes from God alone.