Job Tells of Earth’s Treasures

Job 28:1–11
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Job opens this chapter with a discussion of man’s skill in acquiring the riches of this earth. He takes us deep into the earth where brave men are mining gold, iron, copper, and precious stones. He describes how men work hard and face great danger to find material wealth. They tunnel through hard rock and risk their lives to get rich.

He tells how men mine silver and refine gold (v. 1). He describes how iron is taken out of the earth and copper is molten out of stone (v. 2). Man knows how to put light into darkness and explore the darkest regions of the earth (v. 3). The mine shafts sink into the earth far from where anyone lives (v. 4). Bread comes from the earth, but below the surface the earth is melted as by fire (v. 5). People know how to find sapphires and gold dust (v. 6). The shafts from which they are taken are hidden from the birds (v. 7). The beasts of the earth, who are unafraid of the dark, have not even walked there (v. 8). Men will go to great lengths to get these treasures. People  know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains (v. 9). They cut tunnels in the rocks and uncover precious stones (v. 10). The dam up the trickling streams and bring to light the hidden treasures (v. 11).

Why is it that men and women will not put that much effort into gaining God’s wisdom? The Word of God is like a deep mine, filled with precious treasures; but the Christian must put forth effort to discover its riches. It takes careful reading, study, meditation, prayer, and obedience to mine the treasures of the Word of God; and the Holy Spirit is willing to assist us. However, man can not find God’s riches by mere human efforts.

Application

Job has been talking about the minerals and the precious stones in the earth. My greatest need in mining the spiritual truths of God’s Word is to allow the Holy Spirit to be my guide and open His spiritual truths to my understanding.