Job 28:12, “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?”
The first 11 verses of chapter 28 employ the imagery of a mine with deep shafts and searching tunnels as an example of humanity’s ability to find the “thing that is hidden” and bring it “out to the light.” And yet—Job’s question goes—where can Wisdom be found, where is Understanding hidden? In what mountain are these most precious jewels hidden? What shaft can reach far enough into the hidden places of the world to draw these treasures into the light?
Job’s answer is one we would expect, “God understands the way to it [Wisdom], and He knows its [Understanding’s] place” (v.23). And where is this place? Where is the mountain in which the rich veins of Wisdom may be found? Where is the mine from which humanity might draw up the treasures of Understanding, the wealth of insight which is knowledge of the Holy One? Ultimately, that mountain is Calvary where we see the veins of Wisdom running not gold, but red through the Rock who is our Lord and God, stricken for His people. He Himself is the Mountain in whom are hidden all the riches of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3).
As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:18-24, Christ Crucified is the Wisdom of God…..Christ Crucified is pure, naked, undiluted Wisdom—the Wisdom in and by whom, from and for whom, God created all things; the Wisdom who is God perfectly known and God perfectly responded to within the medium of humanity, and so the Wisdom whom to know is to rightly know God, and whom to emulate is to rightly fear God. Would we find wisdom? Would we lay hold of understanding? Would we bring hidden riches of insight out into the light? Then let us mine the Mountain of the Crucified and Risen Christ! Let us delve into His depths—which are fully exposed in His cross—let us spend our lives in the Spirit-illumined halls and soaring cathedrals and shimmers grottos hidden in the heart of the slain and risen Lord…and in Him, let us come to know, and understand, and enjoy, and so emulate the Holy One who is our God.
