wisdom

maple leaves in spring, may 14, 2005, shiozawa parking area

most of us have been into fiery trials. some understand why it does happen to them, but most, if not all, question the wisdom behind this happening. for others, it is an awakening, an eye opener; for some, it is unfair, an incident beyond logic.

here is one guy whose suffering is not uncommon to most of us. job, a familiar character in the old testament, was hit by his enemy to the bone. his children were struck by a calamity and died in the same day, his property was ruined, he got boils all over, he was cursed by his wife, and to top it all, these incidents were approved by a God, his Creator, whom he feared and trusted all his life. it all happened albeit job was described as an upright and blameless man.

yet in all these, job searched for wisdom. his declaration of what wisdom is and the value of it speaks greatly of what we perhaps are looking for these days. i read these words yesterday in job 28.

12 "But where can wisdom be found?
Where does understanding dwell?

13 Man does not comprehend its worth;
it cannot be found in the land of the living.

14 The deep says, 'It is not in me';
the sea says, 'It is not with me.'

15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
nor can its price be weighed in silver.

16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,
with precious onyx or sapphires.

17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,
nor can it be had for jewels of gold.

18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;
the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.

19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;
it cannot be bought with pure gold.

20 "Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?

21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds of the air.

22 Destruction and Death say,
'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'

23 God understands the way to it
and he alone knows where it dwells,

24 for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.

25 When he established the force of the wind
and measured out the waters,

26 when he made a decree for the rain
and a path for the thunderstorm,

27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
he confirmed it and tested it.

28 And he said to man,
'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.' "

i learned something from job yesterday.