A Little Perspective on Wisdom- Ecclesiastes 11:5

"Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman,

so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things."

Ecclesiastes 11:5

As we head into the New Year, I thought it would be appropriate to wrap up our look at some pieces of the wisdom literature with the under-riding assessment of knowledge that guides all of the statements we have looked at throughout the year.

I recently finished an Anatomy and Physiology course. We learned about the development of the baby inside the womb. We read about growth plates, and cartilaginous models, and osteoblasts, and a lot of other stuff that I have just a basic understanding of now. All of these things and so many more go into the formation and development of bones in a fetus and the growth of those bones throughout childhood. But as much as scientists have learned throughout all of the years, they still haven't figured out how to do any of it from scratch. They may be able to take stem cells and program them to do different things, but to my knowledge, God is still the only one actually in the business of stem cell production! Listen to another of Solomon's statements earlier in Ecclesiastes 8:16-17:

When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, "I know," he cannot discover.

 Wow. I wonder how modern scientists would respond to this statement. My assumption is that those whose hearts are open to God would say, "amen" and praise God and then keep searching for answers to how God did things with the knowledge that they will always have a job because they will never find all the answers! On the other hand, I would assume that those who refuse to accept a Creator would say, "bah! Just give us more time and we'll find it!" But the truth of the matter is that there will always be mysteries to solve and we will only solve them as God allows us to.

I say, "praise God!" Look at the details of life and praise God when you have an awesome sense of wonder about how in the world our brain can coordinate all of the intricacies of life without any effort, how all of the galaxies line up and are held together, how each animal depends on other animals and creations for a delicate balance.

Scientists have spent centuries studying the creation in only bits and pieces and they have gained much knowledge and understanding. And every question they answer asks another. We are slowly gaining understanding by looking at things that already exist

CAN YOU EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE THE IMMENSITY OF THE MIND THAT IMAGINED CREATION INTO EXISTENCE AND THOUGHT THROUGH ALL OF THE "WHATS?" AND "WHYS?" AND "HOWS?" AND "WHAT ABOUTS?" THAT WENT INTO IT ALL IN ONLY 6 DAYS!?

When we are finally humbled by that realization, then we heed the advice that Solomon closes Ecclesiastes with...and we heed it with joy and thankfulness instead of grudging obedience because we recognize that the God who created the universe in infinite wisdom also loves us with infinite love.

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Starting next week, we will be looking at sayings of Jesus. Remember that the goal of the VOW is to give a thought for mediation and to encourage folks to hide God's word in their hearts. So scan through the gospels and send in your favorite verses that came from the mouth of Christ. You can click the comment button below to submit passages. I'll put a list together and start writing from those next week. I hope you've had a blessed holiday season but even more than that, that you and your family have grown in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. May we all recognize his greatness and glory in it as we begin this new year.