What does Isaiah 19:12 reveal about the limitations of earthly leaders and advisors? Setting the Scene: Egypt’s Crisis in Isaiah 19 • Isaiah 19 portrays God’s judgment on Egypt—its idols tremble, its rivers dry, and civil strife erupts (vv. 1-11). • Verse 12 arrives after God exposes the failure of Egypt’s craftsmen and counselors (v. 11). Israel hears a taunt directed at a once-proud superpower that now gropes for direction. Text Focus “Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and reveal what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt.” (Isaiah 19:12) Key Truths About Earthly Leadership and Counsel • Their wisdom evaporates under divine scrutiny. • They cannot predict, prevent, or overturn God’s decrees. • Human expertise is time-bound and culture-bound; God’s purposes are eternal and universal. • Even renowned nations eventually discover their intellectual resources are inadequate before the Lord of Hosts. Supporting Scriptures Underscoring These Limits • Job 12:17 — “He leads counselors away barefoot and makes judges fools.” • Psalm 146:3-4 – “Do not put your trust in princes…when their spirit departs…their plans perish.” • Jeremiah 10:14 – “Every man is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols.” • 1 Corinthians 1:19-20 – God “will destroy the wisdom of the wise…Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” • Proverbs 21:30 – “There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.” Implications for Today • Political leaders, think tanks, and experts can diagnose but cannot redeem; only God’s counsel stands (Proverbs 19:21). • National security, economic strategies, and technological advances are gifts, yet they crumble if divorced from submission to the Lord (Psalm 33:10-11). • The church must weigh every policy, philosophy, and prediction against God’s revealed Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Encouragement for Believers • Anchor hope in the unchanging Counselor—“the LORD of Hosts,” not in shifting human opinion. • Seek wisdom that begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). • Pray for leaders to humble themselves and acknowledge God’s sovereignty, knowing He “removes kings and establishes them” (Daniel 2:21). |
    |