Wisdom and Understanding

Can we achieve wisdom and understanding on our own?

"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold to be refined. Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. Miners put an end to darkness, and search out to the farthest bound the ore in gloom and deep darkness. They open shafts in a valley away from human habitation; they are forgotten by travelers, they sway suspended, remote from people. As for the earth, out of it comes bread; but underneath it is turned up as by fire. Its stones are the place of sapphires, and its dust contains gold. "That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it. The proud wild animals have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it. "They put their hand to the flinty rock, and overturn mountains by the roots. They cut out channels in the rocks, and their eyes see every precious thing. The sources of the rivers they probe; hidden things they bring to light. "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Mortals do not know the way to it, and it is not found in the land of the living. The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.' It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed out as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. The chrysolite of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. "Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.' "God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens. When he gave to the wind its weight, and apportioned out the waters by measure; when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the thunderbolt; then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out. And he said to humankind, 'Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'" - Job 28:1-28

Job's struggle for understanding has brought him to this place, belittles and humbled by God and left to discover for himself how to make sense of what has happened to him.

Is Job capable of truly understanding?  Are we?

According to Job, it is only God who knows the way to it and where it resides.  And perhaps, the challenge we all face in life is to seek it out and find it for ourselves.

The path to wisdom itself lies in realizing that God is not going to show it to us or lead us to it.  It is through our fear and love of God that we gain wisdom.

Job has finally come to see that.  

So long as he is battling God, he gains nothing.  It is only when he pauses and ponders the almighty nature of God that. he starts to see why his efforts are futile.

As God showed him, man was not present when all that came to be was brought into existence, and so, how could we truly know?

And Job also see that understanding can only come from avoiding evil.

We may not be guaranteed a life free of pain and suffering, but it is the choice we make to stay clear of evil that frees us and holds us close to God.

So, are we capable of truly understanding and gaining wisdom?

Maybe not, but we can bring ourselves close to God, and trust in Him to hold us in His arms.

More to come...