With wisdom comes worry …

Job 39:14-15

She lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand, unmindful that a foot may crush them, that some wild animal will trample them.  NIV

I found this verse by searching the New Living Translation for the word “worry” on Bible Gateway.com.  There, verse 15 reads, “She doesn’t worry that a foot might crush them or a wild animal might destroy them.” NLT

God is speaking here, to Job.

He’s talking about the animals that he has made.  In this case, the ostrich.  Verse 13 says, “The ostrich flaps her wings futilely — all those beautiful feathers, but useless!” MSG

Verse 17 says, “For God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense.” NIV

I love the way The Message translates that verse and the last part of the one just before it, “she cares nothing about anything.  She wasn’t created very smart, that’s for sure, wasn’t given her share of good sense.” MSG

God goes on to discuss what she IS really good at — running.  I think that is why he created her.

But, I’m most interested in the part that comes before the running, where God is pointing out that the ostrich makes very poor decisions without worrying about them.  I think that is so interesting.

In contrast, humans spend a great deal of time caring for their little ones.  There’s a movie out that I want to see.  It’s called “Babies.”  It follows four children in four different countries for the first year of their lives.  People that I know who have seen it, have said that they gained a new perspective.  Regardless of the culture or circumstances into which it is born, a baby does certain things in its first year, and its parents do, too.

We were created with knowledge and we were given a measure of good sense … and we worry … about our children and about the decisions that we make.

I think that is so interesting.  Because we were given the ability to contemplate the consequences of our actions, we do.  For some of us, that leads to worry, which we are called not to do.

God knows that we will worry.  He created us that way.  But, He also gave us the remedy … trust.  We must trust God, day by day, moment by moment.

That’s what I’ll think about today.