As human beings we often pride ourselves on our ingenuity and
expertise. Even in Job’s time, probably
over 3,000 years ago, complicated engineering, including mining for minerals
and precious metals in quite deep shafts (v4) was evidently relatively
commonplace.
However, Job realises that for all of his knowledge, mankind
often looks in the wrong place for wisdom, and indeed, usually does not
recognise it when he sees it. If it
were something he could find in a mine, he would be quite likely to discard it
as worthless! (v13).
I chose to reflect on Job today because when I read the other
set passages, I found them both too difficult.
On reading the Exodus passage, my human understanding struggled to
comprehend how God could cause children to be put to death in order to fulfil
His purposes, and on a personal level Jesus’ direction in Luke Ch 14 to love
and care for those we find difficult struck a little too close to home. It is not often that Job is considered to be
the easy option!
But then it struck me that my struggle with God’s word
illustrates what Job was describing. My
human understanding of God’s purposes falls short - wisdom “is hidden from the
eyes of every living thing” (v 21). But
“God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells” (v23).
Even though we usually want everything explained to us,
sometimes all we can do is to accept that “the fear of the Lord – that is
wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding” (v28).
(women’s ministry)