“But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:12).

Men have been searching for this most valuable of all treasures since time began. Eve first fell into sin as she was led by Satan to believe that the forbidden fruit would make her wise. Even before Abram left Ur of the Chaldees, the patriarch Job was asking this ancient question of his three critical friends, but they could not answer.

In this chapter, Job notes that while valuable metals can be dug from the rocks of the earth (Job 28:1,2), wisdom cannot be mined by hard searching and labor. Neither can it be purchased like some commodity (vs.13–19). In terms of modern categories, wisdom is not acquired through college degrees or philosophical meditation, or any variety of human experience or study.

It can only be found in God, Himself, for “God understandeth the way thereof, and He knoweth the place thereof” (Job 28:23). “The fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).

True wisdom is to be found in the Lord Jesus, “who of God is made unto us wisdom” (I Corinthians 1:30). In Him alone “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

Then, of course, since the Holy Scriptures constitute His written Word, we find wisdom there. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16).

If one desires wisdom-real wisdom-he must find it in the fear of the Lord, a departure from all evil, receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and sovereign Lord, and in diligence to learn and obey His Word. “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly” (Proverbs 2:6,7). HMM