◄ What Does Isaiah 29:14 Mean? ►

Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed."

Isaiah 29:14(NASB)

Verse of the Day

Isaiah was one of many prophets that warned the nation of Israel of their apostasy towards God. But despite this spiritual apostasy and indifference towards their God, He promised His wayward nation (who were soon to face severe judgement), that the day would come when He would once again deal marvellously with them. He promised that He would perform many wonderful works and glorious signs, through their promised Redeemer. But the ways of God are very different from those of man, and the glorious wonder of the Cross was a far cry from the expectations of the wise men of learning: "For the wisdom of God is foolishness to those that are perishing."

Paul knew that the teaching of a crucified Christ was a stumbling block to the Jews and foolish folly to the Gentiles. Nevertheless, preaching Christ crucified was Paul's singular focus, and the glorious gospel of Christ and the incredible message of the Cross was Paul's passion. The message of the Cross is considered to be foolish lunacy to unsaved men who are dead in their sins, blinded by Satan, and heading for hellish destruction. But to those who have been saved by the blood of the Lamb, are growing in grace, and maturing in the faith, it is the very power, and wisdom, and wonder of God.

God is also all-knowing and holy, unchanging and sovereign. He is righteous in all His ways, and He is as wise as He is good. And in His omniscient wisdom and transcendent understanding, the Lord renders the wisdom of this world as foolishness in His sight, and He confounds the clever philosophical thinkers and their presumptuous propositions: "Causing the wisdom of wise men to perish, and the discernment of the discerning to be be concealed."

It was Isaiah who first wrote that God: "Destroys the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." And it was the apostle Paul who continued this warning from God: "That the wisdom of the wise would pass away, and the discernment of their discerning men would disappear," for when God is removed from His sovereign throne in the hearts and minds of fallen man, the wisdom of wise men perish, and the judgements of sophisticated thinkers is hidden from view.

God tells us clearly what will happen when the incredible message of the Cross with its staggering truth and eternal consequences is dismissed and discarded by clever, philosophical thinkers with their presumptuous propositions: God is not mocked and He laughs at their idiotic notions, He destroys the wisdom of the wise, and He frustrates the brilliance of intelligent men, for it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

For the glorious message of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God, in Whom we trust. It is the mercy, kindness, and justice of God. It is the goodness, glory, and grace of God that Christ my God should die for me.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible message of the Cross and for giving me an understanding of the staggering truth that God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, came to earth to live and die as a man. By grace through faith in Him I have been saved and am being conformed into the likeness of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank You that the Holy Spirit lives in me and guides all those who trust in You into all truth. Praise Your holy name! AMEN.