Imagine a man sitting on the porch of his home after a long week of hard work. With his feet up, rolling a long blade of grass between his fingers, staring out over the vast stretch of land overlooking a dirt road that thins into the distance. His wife sits beside him, knitting and flicking the wool in her hands, crafting an intricate woven blanket for the upcoming winter months.
Far off in the distance, a small but increasing figure of a rider and his horse comes into view. The long and calm process of an incoming visitor approaches. A calm and collected response can be prepared.
In contrast, imagine a beeping sound, the roar of an aircraft overhead, the ping of messages incoming. A never-ceasing bombardment of information, voices mingling and yelling, pulling our attention in every direction. If you were to ask a question, an even louder roar of responses will follow. Where can a voice of reason be found? Whom can we seek out for an answer? Do we listen to the loudest voice? How can we determine anything—by the one with the longest speech or the most words?
Our world is increasingly complex. What we knew yesterday as our world changes overnight. New technologies, new events, new faces pile up to replace the old. We need wisdom, not just a quick-drawn answer based on popular beliefs or prominent positions. We see the weight of this world leaning on us; we feel this increasing burden.
Over the next six weeks, we will delve into the depths of the book of Job to see what treasures are stored in these pages. What wisdom lies hidden within the story of a man who lost everything in moments and then his health? He had voices that spoke into his life—how did he react? We will walk the path of Job, step by step, to understand his mindset and grasp what he ultimately discovered.
After the pinnacle of Job’s defense and plea—after the peak of human wisdom—God showed Job His own works. It was this revelation that finally caused Job to truly see. It is this wisdom that Job finally grasped that we seek to find. We will walk the same steps and enter the same mindset as Job did, so that our gaze might be fixed on what God revealed to him.
One thing we can rest in: Jesus Christ also suffered. He understands our pain. We are promised this by Jesus—take heart, for He overcame the world. So have peace in Him.
John 16:33