Be Careful What You Ask!

Job 15

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What knowest thou, that we know not?

What understandest thou, which is not in us?

Job 15:9

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Have you ever heard this? When the world approaches Christians, in their pride, they believe that they know just as much, if not more, than us. While it is often true that they have more knowledge about certain things, the fact that they are not Christians reveals that they just don't get it. Sometimes that is simply because God has not revealed his truth to them and called them to salvation. Other times it is because they refuse to see.

Eliphaz uses two words that I want to focus on today; know and understand. While they are related, there is a big difference in these two words. I would also say that you cannot truly have one without the other. Even though Eliphaz was not asking an earnest question, lets consider what we can take away from this.

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"What knowest thou, that we know not?"

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"Know" pertains to knowledge. Eliphaz is asking Job, "What knowledge do you possess that we do not possess?" It is always arrogant to assume you know as much as another person about an issue. We tend to judge people based on appearance, speech, education, and myriad other traits. We might hear someone speak with a slow southern draw and assume that they are uneducated. Yes, that even happens here in the south. We may see someone dressed in a blue collar uniform and think that they are uneducated since they obviously do menial work. Assumptions are dangerous.

At this moment, I am waiting on someone to arrive at my house in a "blue collar uniform". Why? Because my Air Conditioner went out yesterday. It was 80 degrees in my house at 6:30 this morning. I'm not judging those guys because of the work they do, because I need the work they do. I might have a couple of degrees from universities, but I would be a fool to look at them and say "What knowest thou, that I know not?" They know something that I don't know, which is why I need them!

Job knew someone that his friends did not know. Check out this verse from chapter 1.

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And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job 1:8

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It is significant that God did not say, "hast thou considered my servant Eliphaz?" No, God said that "there is none like him (Job) in the earth". Job knew God in a way that his friends did not. Yet, in their arrogance, they assumed that they were on the same plane as him. That is a foolish assumption to make.

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"What understandest thou, which is not in us?"

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Knowledge is the possession of basic information. Understanding is knowing how to apply that knowledge. For instance, I know the quadratic equation. It was drilled in my head when I was in high school. I do not understand it's purpose. While I possess knowledge of this formula, I do not possess understanding. Job's friends demonstrated time and time again that they did not understand God. While they said some true things about God, they misapplied many of those ideas. In their pride, they would not listen to Job who knew God and understood God better than they did.

The world may know that their is a god. They may even believe that he is the God of the Bible. That does not mean that they know Him. Also, just because we know God, through salvation, does not mean we understand God. That takes an ongoing relation ship and effort.

Through this process of suffering and feeling abandoned, God was working in the life of Job to help him (Job) understand Him (God) more. As Christians, when we look to God through the ups and downs of our lives, we too are learning to understand God more. This understanding draws us closer to Him and helps us to become more dependent upon Him. That is a good thing. It is good when we stop trying to handle everything ourselves and let the God of the universe handle it. It is good when we stop trying to carry the burdens of life and let the God of the universe carry them. This only happens as understanding of who He is increases in our lives.

God, thank you for giving us ways to both know and understand you more. I pray that you would help me to both know you and understand you more. I know that may require trials, but they are going to come anyway. Help me to grow through those trials and become more dependent on you!