Trinity United Methodist Church Daily Scripture Email Devotion for Friday, 30 May 2014 "Some things are Mystery, Beyond Our Knowing"

Trinity United Methodist Church Daily Scripture Email Devotion for Friday, 30 May 2014 "Some things are Mystery, Beyond Our Knowing"
But where can wisdom be found?  Where does understanding dwell?  Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living (Job 28: 12, 13).
This chapter is one of the keys to the Book of Job and the "problem of evil."  If you have time, I encourage you to read the entire chapter.  Its point is this, as stated in the two verses above:  there are some things that are simply beyond our comprehension - in this life.  The entire chapter is a search for wisdom.  Humanity can "find" and understand almost everything imaginable, but the one thing beyond us is this:  "inexplicable suffering."  The kind of suffering that Job experienced, that all of us, to some degree, suffer is beyond us - despite the noble, but misguided assertions that they are God's doing.
I remember as a child of about 7, one of my classmates was swimming in a small creek and touched a live electrical wire and was electrocuted and died.  It was beyond my comprehension, and I asked my Mom the eternal question:  "Why?"  Why did this happen?  And her response, which, at the time, I thought was woefully inadequate, was this:  Some things we can't understand this side of heaven."  I've often wondered if my 4 years in college as a philosophy major, 3 years in seminary studying theology, and 6 more years at Princeton doing a Masters then a Ph.D. were in essence a pursuit of this qustion I asked my Mom long ago - only to come back around to agreeing with her (and Job!).  There are just some things that are beyond our knowing?  Where may wisdom be found; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
Some things are mystery.  But tune in on Monday, as we finish the Book of Job on the highest and best note of the book, a note that more than compensates for our not knowing.  God bless, Dan
Remember:  One big worship service on June 1 at 10:00 to celebrate our mortgage burning; followed by lunch for everyone.
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