Job 11:12 (ESV)
But a stupid man will get understanding
when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!
Isn’t that the truth. This verse is being said by a man named Zophar. He is speaking to his friend Job. Job is in extreme suffering and has lost everything precious to him. The only thing he has left is a nagging, faithless wife. Zophar has traveled many miles to comfort Job. Zophar apparently believes the above words will add to Job’s comfort. They do not. We have here a great example of good counsel said to the wrong person in the wrong way. The thought that Zophar conveys is truth. Those who have no mind for wisdom and truth are stupid and will not receive understanding:
Proverbs 17:16 (ESV)
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
People who want to remain stupid will remain stupid and no amount of knowledge and wisdom will change that. Zophar is spot on with this philosophy. His difficulty is that he is speaking to a man who has understanding. Job was declared righteous by God in chapters one and two of the book. Zophar doesn’t know this and shows up at the end of chapter two. Job is suffering because God allowed Satan to vex his spirit, not because he is stupid and won’t accept understanding. The truth of Zophar should be utter from the roof tops. But the application to Job’s condition is not truth. We need to be careful when we give truth when we don’t know what God is doing.
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