11.p. “No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.”

Nahum 1:9   What do you plot against the Lord? He will make a complete end; trouble will not rise up a second time. For they are like entangled thorns, like drunkards as they drink; they are consumed like stubble fully dried. From you came one who plotted evil against the Lord, a worthless counselor. Thus says the Lord, “Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds apart.”

Psalms 2:1-4   Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,  “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”  He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.

Ezekiel 38:10-11    “Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme

Isaiah 8:9-10    Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered.  Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.

Proverbs 21:30    No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.

Who knows the hearts of man, but God?  Who knows the intents of actions taken by man, but God? Who speaks with worldly wisdom and knowledge to give counsel to a man that leads them astray?  Why is it that man chooses to listen to and follow these worldly leaders giving false promises?  Each person chooses to listen and follow after that which fills their heart.  The sad part of this is most choose to deny God and willfully will not follow after Him.  Proclaiming God does not exist does not free anyone from the consequences of denying to honor, follow, trust, obey and rely on Him.  Proclaiming and believing God is love and all mankind will go to heaven upon death will lead many straight into hell.  Wide is the doorway to hell and the path is lined with everything to falsely satisfy the earthly soul, totally apart and separated from God.  When there is no conviction of sin in the heart of man, there will be no need for a savior, redeemer, and forgiver.  When there is no preaching of sin and the need for repentance there will be neglect, complacency, and lukewarm following after and trusting in Jesus Christ.  There will be no humble thanksgiving for the atonement and forgiveness of sin.  When there is no hunger and thanksgiving for God’s Word and to know and understand the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ more and more, people will become shallow in their belief, understanding, and application of God’s Word in their lives.  Hearts and minds that choose to walk in blind, limp, and shallow commitment to Jesus Christ will easily be taken in by those who distort the truth or deny the active power of Jesus Christ in the world today.  We do not have to look very hard at the things that are happening in the world today to know the return of Jesus Christ will come and the end is fast approaching.   Denying we are in the end times does not make it so, just like denying sin and the need for Jesus Christ does not make it so, just like denying each man will be judged by God does not make it so.  If you listen to news media for any short period of time you will seldom or never hear the need for God.  You will not hear of living to humbly serve Him.  What you will hear is worldly counsel, plots of man, fear, division, confusion, and utter lack of the fear of God.   I wonder what our lives would be like if we spent as much tie in God’s Word as we do listening to the meaningless drivel on local and national news.  Would our lives be changed?  Yes, they would.

4.u. No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.

Job 5:12  He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end. They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.

Psalms 33:10-11    The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.  The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.

Proverbs 21:30    No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.

Isaiah 8:10    Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.

Psalms 21:11    Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.

Psalms 9:15-16    The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.  The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.

Psalms 7:15-16    He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.  His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.

1 Corinthians 1:19-20    For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

It does not take much time reading or watching the news in either local or foreign outlets to hear those who have no regard for God.  It comes from those in business, education, military, unions, sports, and politics.  It seems the louder they speak and the more absurd their thoughts the more attention they get.  They would have us believe things like: only the weak seek a god, there are many gods, there are multiple ways to God, your life is all about YOU, and you are intolerant if you do not agree with that which opposes honoring God.  They feed fuel to the lies of Satan.  The most unsettling thing about this is that more and more people are believing these lies.  They join in full force to the cause of the day without giving thought to God.  I would like to say that people are brainwashed over time and have little to no chance of not being pulled along this path of destruction.  The truth is that God has placed within each of these hearts knowledge of Him and they have chosen to reject Him.  At the end of the day, they are without excuse, hope, or true hope and peace.  We can shake out head at them in disgust but the truth of the matter is that we too were just like this, lost and without hope.  God in His perfect plan, softened our heart and in this softening, we heard whispers of the need for forgiveness, salvation, and repentance.  Our minds were spiritually opened to the mystery of grace, mercy, and love through Jesus Christ.  This wisdom and understanding were not of ourselves but of God.

I get lost in my thoughts when I try to understand this in light of our free will to open the door to our heart to Him and His softening of our heart to bring us to this point in our life.  I see these lost people and what they say and what they believe and get a bit miffed with all of it.  I easily forget how I was also this way.  I forget the darkness I lived in.  I forget all the time I spent in this darkness and liking it.  I forget all of the time spent apart from God and never giving Him a single thought.  They are lost for sure but while there is breath in their lungs there is still hope for salvation, forgiveness, and repentance.

We honor God by exposing the darkness.  We honor God by speaking and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We never know who or when a hardened heart will be softened, but we do know that salvation and forgiveness are given to all who believe in, trust in, and rely on Jesus Christ.

Face Fear with God

Our God will fight for us

Nehemiah 4:15
When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work

Psalms 33:10
The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage

Isaiah 19:3
and I will confound their counsel

Job 5:12
He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
He catches the wise in their own craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end

Isaiah 8:10
Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
speak a word, but it will not stand,
for God is with us.

People are around us everyday that choose not to follow God and have schemed their own plans.  They seem to have the upper hand in what they are doing.  God’s plan is never interrupted or altered.  His plans are sure. Why then is there room for fear in our thoughts?  It is easy to see what is happening around us and have doubts and fear what is right before us.  Remember God is in control no matter what is before us.  He is our Heavenly Father who loves us. He will never leave or forsake us.  He has given us precious promises to allow us to live without fear and with joy, hope, and purpose.  When doubts and fear blindside you – remember who God is and lean not unto your own understanding but take everything to Him in prayer and the peace of God that passes all understanding will flood your soul.  Stand firm in Him alone – let Him be your strong hold and solid rock.