GOD’S WORDS OF WISDOM

“But where can WISDOM be found? And where is the place of understanding?” – Job 28:12

Job 28 ponders on GOD’S WORDS of WISDOM: “But where can WISDOM be found? And where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:12). The answer is not far-fetched: God’s Word is Divine Wisdom! This text employs mining as an analogy for searching for wisdom. The One who empowers man to put His hand on the flint; uproot mountains; cut out channels in the rocks; discover precious gems; dam up the streams from trickling; and mine treasures that are hidden to light, is the Fountain of Wisdom (vv.9-11)! God’s Wisdom authored His creative works and wonders: “O LORD, how manifold are Your works! IN WISDOM You have made them all” (Psa.104:24a); “The LORD by WISDOM founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens” (Pro.3:19).

The Word of God is the Wisdom of God. In Exodus 14:16, God instructed Moses, “lift thou up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.” This was His wisdom on display. There’s no way human mind or science can rationalize dividing a pool of water with a rod, let alone the Red Sea. But this was “God’s science” – Divine Wisdom at work. Moses acted on the Word and it worked. That’s what happens when we act on the Word, even if the instruction doesn’t seem to make human sense – the supernatural ensues.

Job remained faithful, knowing that God’s Wisdom was beyond His understanding. He knew that wisdom is not “found in the land of the living” (v.13). It resides in the mind of God: “God understands its WAY, and He knows its PLACE” (v.23). Intellectual knowledge, practical skills, our experiences in life, and academic expertise are valuable, but without God’s Word, His Wisdom is missing. All we’ll have is the carnal, sensual, limited wisdom of men (1Cor.2:6). Heavenly Wisdom is mined from God’s Word! Divine Know-hows and the How-Tos of God are contacted by revelation not calculation. Wisdom is aligning with God’s higher thoughts; and laying hold on His higher ways (Isa.55: 8-9).

Wisdom is a fundamental Pillar of Life: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom” (Pro. 4:7a). Wisdom is priceless: “For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her” (Pro.8:11). Wisdom is God’s creative tool and reigning instrument. No king reigns without wisdom! (Pro. 8:12-15). That’s why, though it is ever-beckoning, it must be sought and found (Pro.8:1-4). Wisdom says: “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will FIND me” (Pro.8:17). We don’t stumble on the hidden wisdom accidentally: “It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air” (v.21). Wisdom, like gold or precious stone, must be mined!

God’s Word is His Wisdom: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all WISDOM” (Col.3:16a). His Word makes us wise (2Tim.3:15). Wisdom is to know from the Word, the scriptural things to do, step to take, way to go, and how to handle situations to produce desired results: supernatural ability to bring solutions to dark matters too difficult for the mind. Rather than wallow in confusion or put our stock in speculation or false wisdom, we must humbly recognize our ignorance: “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (v.28). James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

In the New Covenant, Wisdom is personified in God’s Son, Jesus Christ: “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, CHRIST the power of God and the WISDOM of GOD…But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who became for us WISDOM from GOD – and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption” (1Cor.1: 24, 30). God’s Wisdom functioning in us, empowers and propels us to say and do the right thing, at the right time, for the right purpose, and for God’s Glory!