The Miner

“On the flinty rock man has set to work with his hand; he has overturned mountains at their bases. He has cut out channels through the rocks; his eyes have spotted every precious thing. He has searched the sources of the rivers, and what was hidden he has brought into the light. “But wisdom—where can it be found? Where is the place of understanding? Mankind does not know its place; it cannot be found in the land of the living.” –Job 28:8-13, NET

The picture Job paints in this passage is of men searching for gold and gemstones. They “overturn mountains” in their quest to find what is precious in their sight, and unearth what has been hidden from the careless gaze of common people. Yet wisdom, “it cannot be found in the land of the living” (NET); “Mortals don’t have a clue where to look” (MSG).

Yet later Job acknowledges:

“God understands the way to it, and he alone knows its place. For he looks to the ends of the earth and observes everything under the heavens. When he made the force of the wind and measured the waters with a gauge, when he imposed a limit for the rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, then he looked at wisdom and assessed its value; he established it and examined it closely. And he said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” –Job 28:23-28, NET

But Job does not speak of this profound truth (Pro 9:10) with humility and as a comfort, but as a frustrating mystery. He soon reveals his feelings of abandonment as he laments a time prior when “God’s intimate friendship was experienced in my tent, when the Almighty was still with me,” (Job 29:4-5). He even accuses God of remaining silent and uncaring towards his cries (Job 30:20-21). And by God’s later rebuke of him (Job 38:2), Job is obviously not exalting the LORD. He is accusing God of putting the treasure of wisdom beyond reach.

“I cry out to you, but you do not answer me; I stand up, and you only look at me. You have become cruel to me; with the strength of your hand you attack me.” –Job 30:20-21, NET

Yet Elihu, the one true friend, soon corrects these assumptions. He explains that it is not age nor experience where wisdom is acquired, but it is “the breath Almighty that makes [one] understand," (Job 32:7-8). And Elihu claims to have found it (Job 33:33), and that it is the spirit within him that compels him to speak (Job 32:17-18)—which he does. And Elihu starts by explaining that although Job thinks God is cruel and silent, it is Job’s eyes and ears that are the problem.

“For God speaks, the first time in one way, the second time in another, though a person does not perceive it,” (Job 33:14). He speaks in many ways “to turn a person back from the place of corruption, that he may be enlightened with the light of life,” (Job 33:29-30). People may cry out “because of the excess of oppression,” but sadly no one is truly seeking the LORD, asking “Where is God, my Creator, who gives song in the night,” (Job 35:9-10). No, they ask in “arrogance,” and God is deaf to such requests. James puts it another way:

“You do not have because you do not ask; you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions.” –James 4:2b-3, NET

God promises that those who seek Him will be rewarded (Heb 11:6), and He has demonstrated that plainly in creation (Rom 1:19). Yet if we suppress this truth and live contrary to His character (Rom 1:18), we claim there is no profit in pursuing God and walk with the wicked (see Job 21:7-13; 34:7-9). We might not utter such blatantly blasphemous words, but when we forsake His commandments and pursue earthly endeavors, we are saying that there are greater treasures to chase than the LORD (Mal 3:13-15).

So take note, God does not pitch pearls to pigs (Mat 7:6). He hides what is precious from all those that are content to plod along the surface (Job 28:7-8, 21). True wisdom is not like the “wisdom” of this world, easily accessible to any greedy individual willing to scrape up ten easy steps to amassing wealth. Even the most self-seeking of individuals can sit in on a seminar and learn to imitate good behavior.

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” –1 Corinthians 2:14, NET

See that the landscape of information is endless (Ecc 12:12). If we simply start shoveling, we will never find it, for it is not located “in the land of the living” (Job 28:13). Therefore, one must “sink a shaft” far from where “people live,” (Job 28:4). If God alone “understands the way to it” (Job 28:23)—THE ONE WAY (John 14:6) “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3)—then we must seek His instructions (Psa 111:10)—in faith (Jam 1:5-6).

Therefore, every swing of the pickaxe must be done in obedient faith (Heb 11:6) upon His word (Pro 2:6; Joh 5:39; 2Ti 3:15-17) if it is to be “effective” (Jam 5:16). Like mining for precious metals, wisdom is not revealed at first strike. Nor is it accessible through heavy machinery or from the work done for us by another. Gold cannot be given in exchange for [this wisdom]” (Job 28:15-16). There is no jewel that could be given to cause one to part with such riches—if He has indeed found it (Pro 8:11). One can only hold such treasures up for others to see (Mat 13:52), instructing them where and how to swing to find their own. For those willing to overturn mountains (Job 28:9), “precious treasures” will be revealed (Job 28:9-10).

So if you find yourself "deficient" (Jam 1:2-4), if you find yourself in agony or confused (ex: Job 3), if you are questioning God or life or salvation (ex: Hab 1:2-4), or perplexed at which path to take (Psa 25:9), humble yourself, pick up the scriptures, and start mining.