The foolishness of God

There is a hubris about our world today.  Everyone is smarter than God.  Just ask them.  Science has uncovered God’s mysteries.  Who would bother to yield to the wisdom of a book?  It’s dehumanizing and insulting - can’t you think for yourself?  Haven’t you heard?  The world has evolved past narrow minded concepts of morality - we’re more enlightened now.

There is nothing new under the sun.  The world has always been smarter than God.  Long before irreligious people were given a pulpit via social media, irreligious people were unafraid to opine on the mysteries of the supernatural, the realities of creation, and the wonders of the universe.  Sometimes they were called philosophers.  God calls them fools (Psalm 14:1).

A couple of times in Scripture God becomes exasperated enough with the stupidity of human “wisdom” that he inserts himself.  After suffering through 37 chapters of Job’s stupidity, who can forget God’s answer?  His rhetorical questions drip with sarcasm.  “You’re so smart, Job, maybe I should hire you as a consultant.  I would hire you to run the universe, but after listening to you talk you’re obviously overqualified.”  The peppering of questions in Proverbs reads the same way.

“Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know! 5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (Proverbs 30:4,5)

Throughout thousands of years and billions of people, there remains only one source of truth.  Every word of God is flawless.  Where is the wise man?  Where is the philosopher?  The best the world has ever offered is varying degrees of self-righteousness.  God is so foolish!  The best he offered is grace.

The foolishness of the cross cannot produce hubris.  Standing in its shadow exposes my ignorance and - like Job - shuts my mouth.  Every word of God is flawless - this foolishness is wiser than my brilliance.  At the cross my ignorance ends, and wisdom begins.