Job 11:1-20: a reflection

1Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered, 2“Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified? 3Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, will no man make you ashamed? 4For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.’ 5But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you, 6that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves. 7“Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty? 8They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know? 9Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. 10If he passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him? 11For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it. 12An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt. 13“If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him. 14If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents. 15Surely then you will lift up your face without spot. Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear, 16for you will forget your misery. You will remember it like waters that have passed away. 17Life will be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it will be as the morning. 18You will be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you will search, and will take your rest in safety. 19Also you will lie down, and no one will make you afraid. Yes, many will court your favor. 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”

Zophar, one of Job's friends, speaks harshly and too simply about Job's suffering; but in the middle of his speech he says something true about God. Can you fathom the mysteries of God? he asks. Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens, deeper than Sheol, longer than the earth, broader than the sea. However wrongly Zophar applies it to Job, this much is true: God's wisdom and greatness are beyond our fathoming, higher and deeper than we can measure or comprehend.

Notice this true thread in Zophar's flawed speech: that God is beyond our comprehending. His wisdom is higher than the heavens and deeper than the depths; we cannot probe its limits or fathom its mysteries. This is a truth to hold with humility: that the God we worship is greater than our minds can grasp, and that we cannot reduce his wisdom or his ways to what we can understand. Zophar wrongly used this to silence Job; but the truth itself remains, and calls us to humility before a God beyond our fathoming.

That truth is one to carry, especially where God's ways are hard to understand. We are tempted to think we can fully grasp God, to reduce him and his ways to what fits our understanding, and to judge by that. But God is higher than the heavens and deeper than the depths; his wisdom is beyond our fathoming. When you cannot understand God's ways, do not conclude that they are wrong, or that you have grasped the whole picture. Hold instead the humility Zophar's words point to: that God is beyond your fathoming, wiser and greater than your mind can measure. Trust the God whose wisdom is higher than the heavens, even where you cannot trace it, rather than reducing him to what you can comprehend. A God you could fully fathom would not be God; humble yourself before the One whose wisdom is beyond your measuring.

Lord, Zophar spoke harshly and too simply about Job's suffering; but he said something true, can you fathom the mysteries of God, higher than the heavens, deeper than Sheol, beyond our probing. Let me hold that true thread with humility, however wrongly Zophar applied it. Your wisdom and greatness are beyond my fathoming; I cannot probe their limits or reduce your ways to what I can understand. I am tempted to think I can fully grasp you, to reduce you and your ways to what fits my understanding, and to judge by that. But you are higher than the heavens and deeper than the depths. When I cannot understand your ways, keep me from concluding that they are wrong, or that I have grasped the whole picture. Help me hold instead the humility Zophar's words point to: that you are beyond my fathoming, wiser and greater than my mind can measure. Help me trust you, whose wisdom is higher than the heavens, even where I cannot trace it, rather than reducing you to what I can comprehend. A God I could fully fathom would not be God; help me humble myself before you, Lord, whose wisdom is beyond my measuring.