Job 11:7

Zophar the Naamathite did not care about what everyone could see. He was not interested in what his ancestors had taught him. He thought he was clever enough to solve this problem himself. He had enough intelligence of his own to solve it. So you find Eliphaz the Temanite used his eyes, Bildad the Shuhite used his ears, and Zophar the Naamathite used his brain. But all this wisdom was hopeless, dear friends, when it came to this divine problem that surrounded this wonderful man Job.

It was true that Job could not search out the depths of God's wisdom, or "find out the limit of the Almighty." But did Zophar think God has any limits? He is infinite, not limited in any way. Zophar applied his words only to Job, but they were just as applicable to Zophar too! But he thought himself so wise that he did not need to learn, as Job did. No one can know God's thoughts unless He reveals them.

If man can bring God within the limits of his own thoughts, if by searching he can find Him out, then God is really not God at all — or else man is God. At least man's mind would match the divine infinity. But when it comes to power instead of proud claims, we soon find out the difference.

One serious effect of sin entering the world was that mankind lost the true knowledge of God. Once lost, no effort of man's will or mind could win back that highest and best of all knowledge. Zophar asked, "Can you by searching find out God?" In an earlier chapter Job had confessed the same inability, saying, "Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him." Since we cannot discover God, He must make Himself known to us. Revelation becomes a necessity.

Science is in the presence of the old, old mystery; the old, old questions come to her — "Can you by searching find out God? Can you find out the Almighty to perfection?" And science answers these questions as they were answered of old — "As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him out." That is true testimony; He cannot be found by the searchings of science, any more than by the reasonings of rationalism. But, blessed be His holy Name, He has been graciously pleased to reveal Himself fully in the One to whom all Scripture points. That One is the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have found Him out by the Holy Spirit, for "the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God."… Truly the knowledge of God is as high as heaven, but we have the ability to rise to these heavenly things. "Deeper than hell" would carry us in thought to the cross. There the Son of God went down into death to overthrow every force opposed to the will of God. "The measure… longer than the earth" refers to the counsel of God before time began, which will reach to the new scene when time has ended. "Broader than the sea" would take in all things in heaven and all things on earth, headed up in Christ. So, dear friends, we have found out God… Zophar speaks of the height, depth, length and breadth. The apostle Paul speaks of the breadth, length, depth and height — quite the other way round, because they were working from two different ends.