Whirlwind Of Wisdom

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind.

Job 38:1

Missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham, seized by guerrillas in the Philippines in May 2001, were held captive for 376 days. Just before a military raid led to Martin’s death and Gracia’s freedom, Martin said, “The Bible says to serve the Lord with gladness. Let’s go out all the way. Let’s serve Him all the way with gladness.”

How can someone talk of joy while in deadly peril? Of serving the Lord with gladness while in captivity? It’s because of God’s wisdom. His infinite brilliance looks at everything with perfect understanding. God’s wisdom is revealed in the Bible and imparted to us by the Holy Spirit as we study His Word.

This was the wisdom Job discovered. Overwhelmed with life, he had tried to sort out his troubles, aided by three friends whose insights were even more misguided than his own. But after human wisdom was exhausted, God spoke to Job out of a whirlwind: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” God demanded. “Who laid its cornerstone?” (Job 38:4, 6).

We may not have all the answers to life, but the Lord does. We can defer to His wisdom and trust Him to understand things that make no sense to us.