Precious Peridot & Purest Gold Not Enough

I love rocks. I frequently bring rocks home with me when we travel.  They seem to be a personal and permanent connection for me with where I've been. Of course, colorful and unusual rocks are more attractive to me so I buy tumblestones, polished stones, geodes and gemstones. But, I've also picked up common stones from important places like the Sea of Galilee, Qumran, Masada, the Dead Sea, Jerusalem; and, from many other places.

If Israel has an abundance of anything, it's rocks. The Jews even bring them to place on the graves of loved ones because they last longer than flowers. Makes sense to me. I feel a connection with them.  

I love gemstone jewelry as well. Precious metals and jewels are great. The bigger the better! For me they represent God's secret handiwork. God filled the earth with precious metals and gemstones. They are hidden treasures available to those who are willing to pay the price to obtain them. One can either labor for them, risking life and limb, or one can pay the asking price once they've been discovered, recovered and refined to reveal their beauty and value. But it was God who created them: to Him be the glory! They are small reminders of the wondrous, beautiful things He has provided for our future life.

My appreciation of stones is not unique or rare. It's been in vogue for thousands of years. In fact, Job talks about mining the earth for metals and gemstones in the 28th chapter of his namesake book in  the Old Testament.  Let's read some of his comments from the New Living Translation. 

“People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold. They know where to dig iron from the earth and how to smelt copper from rock.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. They sink a mine shaft into the earth far from where anyone lives. They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.  (vs 1-4)

People know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains. They cut tunnels in the rocks and uncover precious stones. They dam up the trickling streams and bring to light the hidden treasures."  (vs 9-11)

This is quite impressive for what we think of as primitive times. They could mine silver, refine gold, dig up iron, smelt copper, light the darkest regions of the earth, sink mine shafts, cut tunnels and dam streams to obtain hidden treasures prepared by God.

Consider their efforts and their dedication to the task, and all for earthly rewards! Now consider how God sees all this focus on the pursuit of earthly treasures while we fail to comprehend our need for something that's even more difficult to find and more precious to obtain. His wisdom and understanding!

After Job says men know where to search for earthly treasures, he continues with,  “But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living. (vs 12-13)  Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it. It’s worth more than the purest gold." (v 19)

Job says, we don't know where to find wisdom and understanding. He says it's not an earthly product! And, if we found it, we couldn't afford it. There is nothing on earth worthy to exchange for it. Sounds hopeless, doesn't it? Looks like we might have to live without them. 

But then, Job continues his discourse,“God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found... (v 23)  And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding."  (v 28)

So, here's the bottom line! God and God Alone has Wisdom and Understanding. HE is the ALL-WISE GOD. Wisdom and Understanding reside within and emanate from Him! Thus, they can only be accessed by someone in relationship with Him-- someone becoming like Him! And this kind of relationship with a HOLY GOD  is only available to those who fear (reverence) God and forsake evil.

The invitation is open to all. Wisdom and Understanding are available. How will you respond?