A Word from Job 28

Have you ever been to one of those (quote) "Gem and Gold Mines" (unquote) that you find out in the mountains? When my daughter was young, she used to love those things! And if we were ever near one, she'd beg for the chance to do a little searching. And while she occasionally walked away with a pretty rock, I don't think she ever found anything that was truly of value.

Of course, as we get a little older, we realize that those attractions are more for entertainment than for riches. And yet, that doesn't mean we stop searching. We keep panning for peace and joy. We look for love and hope. We search for wisdom, because we know we're going to need it to make it through our confusing times.

And all of this comes to mind when I read today's word from Job 28. You see, right in the middle of all the fruitless searching for truth that occupies most of this book of the Bible, there is an interlude, which some might say offers the key to it all. 

"There is a mine for silver 

     and a place where gold is refined," the author says.

"Mortals put an end to the darkness; 

     and they search out the farthest recesses for ore.

But where can wisdom be found? 

     Where does understanding dwell? 

No mortal comprehends its worth; 

     it cannot be found in the land of the living.

But God understands the way to it,

   and He alone knows where it dwells,

And He said to the human race, 

     'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, 

     and to shun evil is understanding.'" (28:1, 2, 12-13, 23, 28)

Naturally, you might be searching for a lot of things today ~ some trivial and others quite important. But in the midst of it all, may we seek hearts that live in awe of the Lord, trusting that in Him we'll find wisdom and everything else that we truly need. Amen.