Wisdom is Trusting - Job 28:23-28

This is a tremendous story. My heart goes out to hurting families who are going through grief, loss, and affliction. I know we all go through these times and we’re scared as we don’t know what is coming next. I am so amazed by Job’s response. The entire 28th chapter is mind blowing as he discusses how the earth has its beauties and we destroy her looking for them. Rubies, copper, trees, we take them all and we wear them on our hands, and we take ownership of them, just as if they belong to us now.

He goes on to say these words in verse 23-28:

“God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” Job 28:23-28 (NIV Journal the Word Bible, 2018.)

These words are so captivating to me, I have to read them again and pause to gain insight. “God alone understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells.” (v. 23.)

Wisdom is what they are talking about, and chapter 28 is titled “Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found.” I know for me personally, I am looking for the opposite of wisdom. I am searching the gold mines of online shopping, researching my heart out daily for the biggest sales, the most valuable purchases for the least amount of money, and trying to stretch what we have earned for our family. I am trying to come clean about things that I have purchased that I did not need, that I own now and I call my own, and they are not wisdom. My husband tells me this is fine, that they are for me, that I am beautiful and I am loved, and I appreciate these things. I do not find them evil, merely that I did not need them and I searched for them anyway.

Verse 27 says, “then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.”

I am not searching for wisdom, and even if I was, I would not be able to find it. It is more rare than any treasure this earth has to offer, which is becoming more available to us daily. Any treasure we can think of can be ours, for a price. But if we look at the meaning of wisdom, we begin to grasp what is missing in all our lives, in my life.

Verse 28 says, “And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”

Fear of the Lord. Fear of Jesus. Knowing that only He can offer me everlasting life through the forgiving of my sins, they are many. Through believing in Jesus and trusting in His grace only He can offer me. This trust leads to understanding that only Jesus can save me and offer me what I really need, a home in heaven where I will spend all my days after I leave this earth.

In the meantime, I am loving my family well. I am not giving all my attention to the poor, or attending church regularly, or even getting rid of all evil. Who can do such a thing? I am merely trusting. I love you, Jesus. I trust you, Jesus. Only Jesus can save me.

To me, that is wisdom. Understanding that only Jesus can offer us eternal life in Heaven with God.

Love Daisy

Thankfulness and hope and joy and love are yours… through Jesus who saves us and welcomes us all through belief is His grace. I trust you, Jesus. Please forgive me.