Is God’s wisdom often a hidden mystery even to the wisest of us? Do simplistic answers reveal our ignorance? Let’s begin in Job 12.
Did Job mock Zophar for talking down to him, for treating him as a joke?
Job responded: Surely you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. I am also intelligent; I’m not inferior to you. Who isn’t like these people? I’m a joke to friends who called to God and he answered; the innocent and blameless one is a joke, a torch of contempt to one who is idle, a fixed point for slipping feet. (Job 12:1-5 CEB)
Do the wonders of creation reveal that simplistic answers are often godless?
Robbers and other godless people live safely at home and say, “God is in our hands!” If you want to learn, then go and ask the wild animals and the birds, the flowers and the fish. Any of them can tell you what the Lord has done. Every living creature is in the hands of God. (Job 12:6-10 CEV)
Do we test the words we hear? Does true strength and sound wisdom come from God?
Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food? Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open. If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. (Job 12:11-16 ESV)
Whose advice ultimately surpasses all of the wisest among men? Are God’s ways often a mystery too deep even for great men?
He leads counselors away barefoot and makes judges go mad. He releases the bonds put on by kings and fastens a belt around their waists. He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows established leaders. He deprives trusted advisers of speech and takes away the elders’ good judgment. He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the strong. He reveals mysteries from the darkness and brings the deepest darkness into the light. He makes nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges nations, then leads them away. He deprives the world’s leaders of reason, and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland. They grope around in darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunken men. (Job 12:17-25 HCSB)
Does Paul teach us how deep and often mysterious God’s wisdom really is?
O how deep are God’s riches, and wisdom, and knowledge! How unfathomable are his decisions and unexplainable are his ways! (Rom 11:33 ISV)
Is God’s wisdom often a hidden mystery even to the wisest of us? Do simplistic answers reveal our ignorance? You decide!
