Another surprise…

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.” Ah, you who hide deep from the Lord your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?” You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? (Isaiah 29:13–16)

The problem of a high IQ is thinking that they know all they need to know and even thinking that their knowledge and plans are hidden from God. As one commentator says, trying to conceal their thoughts from God indicates that they know that their thoughts and plans are sinful, yet as the psalmist writes: “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” (Psalm 73:11). 

Sometimes I wonder about those who are so set against God that they are certain of their plans and their destiny and certain God knows nothing about them nor cares. However, the psalmist later says: 

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:16–26)

He knows all hearts and can do anything He pleases. When I am upset at the hard hearts around me, He can soften and remind anyone who He is. No one is exempt from His power to reach into that stubborn place and gently change it.

Jesus, discouragement comes easy to my eyes, but You are able to encourage my heart by faith in what I cannot see. Someday You will answer the cries of my heart. In the meantime, keep my focus on Your promises and Your power lest I lose hope and take those ‘wise’ people off my prayer list.