What does "my knowledge from afar" teach about God's wisdom and understanding? Setting the Scene • Job 36:3—“I will fetch my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.” • Elihu, Job’s younger friend, is about to speak of God. He consciously reaches “afar,” beyond the limits of earthbound thinking, to present truth about the Almighty. Digging into the Phrase “my knowledge from afar” • Literal picture: Elihu gathers knowledge that is distant—outside immediate human observation. • Spiritual reality: Genuine insight into God cannot be self-generated; it must come from the One whose thoughts transcend ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). • Implication: Any accurate word about God must be rooted in revelation, not speculation. What We Learn about God’s Wisdom • God’s wisdom originates beyond creation. It is “afar” from the finite mind (Psalm 92:5). • Wisdom that reaches us is a gracious disclosure—He lets distant, heavenly counsel touch human ears (James 1:17). • Because it is sourced in eternity, God’s wisdom is unchangeable and perfectly reliable (Malachi 3:6). What We Learn about God’s Understanding • His understanding spans all space and time; nothing is hidden or remote to Him (Psalm 147:5). • The “afar” distance emphasizes His transcendence, yet also His willingness to bridge that gap by revealing Himself (Deuteronomy 29:29). • God perceives the moral dimension of every circumstance. Elihu’s goal is to “ascribe righteousness” to Him, underscoring that divine understanding is always joined to flawless character (Psalm 145:17). Connecting Job 36:3 with the Rest of Scripture • Romans 11:33—“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” The same grand, distant reservoir Elihu seeks is praised by Paul. • Proverbs 2:6—“For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” The source remains the Lord; the distance is bridged by His Word. • 1 Corinthians 1:30—Christ Himself personifies that distant wisdom, becoming “our wisdom from God” and bringing heaven’s knowledge near. Living It Out • Approach Scripture expecting heavenly insight; it is the channel through which “knowledge from afar” arrives. • Humbly credit every true insight to God, “ascribing righteousness to [our] Maker,” refusing to glory in personal intellect. • Rest in the certainty that the same God who holds remote, unfathomable wisdom is eager to guide daily decisions (Psalm 32:8). Takeaway “Knowledge from afar” spotlights a God whose wisdom and understanding are immeasurably greater than ours, yet lovingly communicated to us so we can know, trust, and worship Him with confidence. |
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