Job 28

Imagine packing for an eight-day trip, only to find yourself still away… two hundred eighty-six days later due to unforeseen circumstances! That’s what happened to astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore. Their Starliner spacecraft successfully delivered them to the International Space Station but could not bring them home because of a mechanical failure. Recently, the SpaceX Crew-10 spacecraft launched, docked at the International Space Station, and returned the stranded astronauts to Earth. Williams’ first words upon returning were, “I’ve a really good feeling.”

I can’t imagine her “good feeling” and can’t comprehend the brainpower of those who put a space station in the atmosphere over 250 miles above the Earth. When something is simple, we say, “That’s not rocket science.” Well, this is rocket science! Smart people are making all that happen.

However, let’s not conflate intellect, brilliance, and genius with wisdom.

What is wisdom, and where do you get it? Let’s check out Job 28.

The minds that God has given us are incredible. After all, we are made in God’s image. Today, brilliant individuals are discovering new ways to send men and women further into space. Early on, humanity found precious metals underground and developed methods to locate, mine, and utilize them. Even in Job’s time, people were extracting the precious metals known to be beneath the surface.

Job 28:1-4
Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine. ² Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore. ³ Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness. ⁴ He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro.

Job was in awe of the miners’ ingenuity. He remarked,

Job 28:9-10
“Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots. ¹⁰ He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing”.

Job understands that skilled, diligent workers can dig deep to extract valuable metals. However, Job seeks something even more precious. He asked,

Job 28:12-13
“But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? ¹³ Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.¹⁴ The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’  and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’”

People spend much time, energy, and ingenuity mining precious metals from the earth, but wisdom is more valuable. It cannot be bought with gold or silver (28:15). Its price far surpasses onyx or sapphire, coral or crystal, pearls, or the “topaz of Ethiopia” (28:16-19). So, Job asked, “From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?” (28:20) Thankfully, Job knows the answer: “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” (23:24). Where do you get wisdom? Here is the answer: “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding” (28:28).

Let’s break this down. First, what is the “fear of the Lord”—a phrase used over three hundred times in Scripture? (See Ps. 111:10)

The Reformer Martin Luther grappled with the concept of the “fear of the Lord,” prompting him to make a useful distinction between what he termed “servile fear” and “filial fear.” “Servile fear” is the kind of fear that a prisoner in a torture chamber feels toward their torturer, jailer, or executioner. This anxiety arises when facing a dreadful or dangerous situation. Servile describes a circumstance in which we are in a posture of submission to an evil person.

“Filial” is the Latin word for family, so “filial fear” refers to a child’s love and respect for their parents. A child does not fear them but wishes to please them. Likewise, the “fear of the Lord” signifies an awe and respect for God—his greatness, his majesty, and his power. We love him because he is Yahweh Elohim—the Sovereign Creator who desires to have a personal relationship with us.

The fear of God is where wisdom starts. Proverbs 1:7 says the fear of God is the “principle part” or “chief thing” of wisdom. Wisdom is a translation of the Hebrew word, hokmah, and means putting spiritual knowledge into practice. While knowledge is a part of wisdom, wisdom goes further. Biblical wisdom embraces God’s Word and possesses the skills of living out biblical truth in everyday life. For instance, it’s one thing to know that evil exists. But Job says that true wisdom moves us to turn away from evil (Job 28:28). The proverbs say it plainly, “By the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil” (Prov. 16:6), and “the fear of the Lord is hatred of evil” (Prov. 8:13). A believer demonstrates true biblical wisdom when living according to God’s Word (Prov. 14:2).

So, if you are going through a difficult time—a Job experience—how does wisdom help you in your struggles? Let me wrap up with this:

James 1:2-5
Count it all joy, my brothers [and sisters], when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Asking God for wisdom during our “trials of various kinds” doesn’t necessarily mean he will answer all our questions. Remember, wisdom is more than just knowledge. God’s wisdom begins with our filial relationship with him as our heavenly Father, who loved us so deeply that he sent his Son to pay the penalty for our sins. Through your trials, God will remind you that the “testing of your faith” produces spiritual maturity so that “you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” So, what does this testing of your faith produce? What does this steadfastness and completeness mean? We’ll discuss that tomorrow.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 28. Focus on how Job moves from the picture of a miner digging deep for valuable stones and metals to searching for and finding true wisdom.

Talking to God
Ask God to keep you engaged in his Word—not just for the sake of knowledge but for the practical application of wisdom.

Have Questions?
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