Job 28:19

Something of such priceless value is now tested by all that man counts as treasure. Pure gold and silver, weighed out without limit, cannot buy it. The fine gold of Ophir, the precious onyx and the sapphire — a king's ransom — have no place here. Gold comes up again, along with transparent crystal — "pure gold, like transparent glass." These jewels are as beautiful as they are rare. Corals, pearls, rubies — wisdom's price is beyond them all. The topaz of far-off Ethiopia finds its shine dim beside this bright jewel of God's glory. Men search all of nature in vain for anything to compare with it. Its price is above every treasure on earth.

The Hebrew word is pitdah, and has been thought to come from an island in the Red Sea called Topazos. That would explain why the ancient versions call it 'topaz,' but the gem is thought to match our chrysolite. Job 28:19 speaks of 'the topaz of Ethiopia.' It was one of the jewels in the breastplate, Ex. 28:17; Ex. 39:10.

Man is in eager pursuit of what is rare in this world — a restless search after gold, silver and precious stones of every kind. But where is wisdom to be found? Man can steer his course across the waters. Man can cut a road through the rocks. He can level mountains and fill valleys to get what he wants. He can even go where the vulture does not fly and does not see... But where is wisdom to be found? The finest gold cannot buy it. The most precious gems and the finest works of art are no fair exchange. The treasures of the deep, even pearls, fail in comparison.

Coral and quartz are not worth mentioning, nor rubies either, in estimating the value of wisdom, nor the topaz of Ethiopia, nor any pure gold (vv.18-19). In other words, absolutely nothing in nature can approach the value of true wisdom, for this is spiritual, not natural... 1 Corinthians 2:7 tells us, "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory." We receive this wisdom only through faith in the Lord Jesus, when the Spirit of God reveals it.

If wisdom is not in creation, where does it come from? Where is the place of understanding, since it is hidden from the eyes of all living? The answer comes back: "God understands its way." And "destruction and death" had heard the fame of it. This is surely a hint of the Cross of Christ. Yes, God knew the wisdom that was needed. When that "hidden wisdom" came out in Christ, and the world crucified the Lord of glory, then death and destruction heard its fame!

There is a wisdom above man. "And to man He said: 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'" And that is exactly what a soul feels at conversion. He may know nothing more than that; he sees how he has been in almost all evil, and he departs from it.