Job 28

The Treasure of Wisdom

_{“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”~ Job 28:12 & 28}

Job 28 is a pause in the storm of Job’s life.  A poetic, powerful moment where Job took a breath from his pain and began to search for the deeper meaning behind everything. He talked about the way people dig deep into the earth for treasures such as silver, gold, precious stones, but then asks the most important question: Where can wisdom be found?

That question stopped me in my tracks recently. I had been going through a struggle where answers felt out of reach. I was reading books, asking for advice, and researching solutions, but nothing was bringing true peace. Then one morning, I read Job 28, and verse 28 gripped my heart: “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.”

God reminded me: Wisdom doesn’t come from more information. It comes from Him. It begins when I honor Him first and seek Him first. When I choose to trust His character, walk in obedience, and turn away from things that pull me from His presence.

Here are some things you can do to get started seeking God’s wisdom:

1. Put God first in your decisions – Before making a choice, pause and ask, “Lord, what honors You in this situation?”
2. Guard what influences you – Evaluate what voices you’re listening to. Are they pulling you closer to God’s heart or farther from it?
3. Turn away from evil – If something compromises your peace or integrity, walk away. That’s a wise step.
4. Spend time with God daily – The more you seek Him, the more His wisdom shapes your perspective and choices.
5. Start each day with a simple prayer – “God, help me to honor You in everything today. Help me to walk in wisdom, and to turn away from anything that’s not from You.”

When you pursue wisdom, you’re not chasing something abstract, you’re pursuing the heart of God. You can be sure He will be generous to give it. James 1:5 says He gives wisdom “generously to all without finding fault.” You don’t have to earn it. Just ask.

Today I want to encourage you to remember that the treasures of the earth fade, but the wisdom of God will guide you, guard you, and sustain you. You don’t have to have it all figured out, you just have to stay close to the One who does. When you walk in the fear of the Lord, you’re already walking in wisdom.

Today’s scripture reading: Job 28

1 “People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold.

2 They know where to dig iron from the earth and how to smelt copper from rock.

3 They know how to shine light in the darkness and explore the farthest regions of the earth as they search in the dark for ore.

4 They sink a mine shaft into the earth far from where anyone lives. They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.

5 Food is grown on the earth above, but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.

6 Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli, and the dust contains gold.

7 These are treasures no bird of prey can see, no falcon’s eye observe.

8 No wild animal has walked upon these treasures; no lion has ever set his paw there.

9 People know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains.

10 They cut tunnels in the rocks and uncover precious stones.

11 They dam up the trickling streams and bring to light the hidden treasures.

12 “But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?

13 No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living.

14 ‘It is not here,’ says the ocean. ‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.

15 It cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be purchased with silver.

16 It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir, greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.

17 Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.

18 Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it. The price of wisdom is far above rubies.

19 Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it. It’s worth more than the purest gold.

20 “But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?

21 It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.

22 Destruction and Death say, ‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’

23 “God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found,

24 for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens.

25 He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall.

26 He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning.

27 Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.

28 And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’”

Journal Prompt:

• What is one area of your life where you need God’s wisdom right now?
• Write it down, and ask Him to lead you step by step with clarity and peace.