“Where shall wisdom be found?” That’s what Job asked in 28:12, and we still want to know the same thing, even if we don’t use the same terminology. We look to counselors like Dr. Phil to help us work out thorny relationships. We search the internet for advice about weight loss or exercise. We ask friends what we should do about difficulties at work or with our kids.

But as Job’s experience shows us, there are very real limits to what we can understand about this world and the way it works. He knew he was not to blame for all the misery that had come upon him (27:5). And he knew that God is righteous and just, eventually punishing the wicked for their sins (27:13-23). But he couldn’t fit these things together. He couldn’t explain why he was suffering.

And all too often, we can’t either. But we also can’t explain the mysteries of life simply by moving or going on a trip – wisdom isn’t found either on the land or in the sea (28:13-14). No expert can give us infallible advice, no matter how much we might try to pay for it (28:15-19). No, only God really knows everything that’s going on (28:23), because only God created everything that exists (26:7-14).

So, if we keep looking to our own reason or experience for guidance, if we continue to place our faith in the scientific method or in our political system to help us determine what is right and wrong, we’ll keep being frustrated and disappointed. Instead, Job reminds us that we must begin with the fear of the Lord (28:28), with an acknowledgment that only God has all the answers. And even though we may not understand what is going on in our lives, the only rational thing to do is to let God decide what is right and wrong, and turn away from anything He considers to be evil. For only God has a perspective big enough to know how everything fits together.

Job 28:12-28 (ESV)

12 “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.’
15 It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.
16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20 “From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air.
22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’
23 “God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.
24 For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25 When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,
26 when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder,
27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.
28 And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'”