The God Who Frustrates

Daily Reading // Isaiah 44:21-28

READY // SILENCIO

Take a moment to quiet your mind and prepare your heart for your time with the Lord.

READ // LECTIO

Read the passage above up to three times aloud. Allow yourself to feel the words as they are read.

REFLECT // MEDITATIO

Now direct your focus on the words, phrases concepts or sentences that got your attention. What is God speaking to you today through His word?

Isaiah 44:25 Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness;

I like this verse. It is a good reminder. No one is a match for God. No one is going to frustrate His plans. No one who opposes Him, or opppses truth, will succeed.

There are three specific types of people who are mentioned here: babblers, diviners, and wise men.

Babblers is referring to people who talk but don’t know what they’re talking about. They babble. Sound comes out, it seems like it could be a discernible language, but they make no sense. It appears their main concern is making noise and gaining attention for themselves.

Diviners is a class of people who like to tell the future. They are prognosticators. They can tell you, based on their analysis and insight, what will happen in a given scenario. They foretell positive outcomes if their direction is chosen and negative outcomes if they are opposed. Like the babblers, they don’t know what they’re talking about.

Wise men, in this context, are those who believe themselves to be wise but whose wisdom is foolishness. I think of the wise men consulted by the king before a Joseph came onto the scene. They will certainly come up with something to fit their version of the facts, but are just spinning tales.

It is very hard to sort things out. How do we silence the babblers, diviners and wise men of our day (and they are all around)? Apparently we don’t. God will frustrate their manipulative plans. He will expose them for who they are. Nobody slips one past God.

If I lean on Him and His Word, I also won’t be fooled.

RESPOND // ORATIO

Pray in response to what the Lord has spoken to you.

Lord, Frustrate the plans of those who claim to be wise but are really fools instead. Lead me by Your truth. Amen.

Tomorrow’s reading -> Isaiah 45:1-25