Isa 19:13-14 | KingComments | STEP | The proverbial wisdom of the Egyptians ( ; ) fails ( ). Zoan and Memphis ( ) are the most important places in Lower Egypt. Memphis has been the capital of Egypt for a long time; later Zoan (Tanis) also became particularly important. The monarchs of these two cities seem to have no solutions for this malaise. The policy makers, the council of wise men, are in the dark about the cause of the misery. The LORD challenges the Egyptians to let their wise men come up and tell in the light of their wisdom what He has decided about Egypt ( ). They cannot do that because they keep Him out of their wisdom. Paul takes this word and says that it is in accordance with God’s wisdom that the world with its supposed wisdom has not come to the knowledge of God ( ). He then draws the conclusion that it has rather pleased God to save people through what the world sees as foolishness: the preaching of the cross ( ). This should be all the more reason for a Christian to consider the world and its so-called wisdom as crucified. If the Egyptians are truly wise, they will recognize and announce that these disasters come from the LORD of hosts. They will realize that their wise men, who are the cornerstone of their society, upon whom everything rests, have led them astray. This is what the LORD has done, for He has poured a spirit of intoxication within their proud leaders as a judgment ( ). As a result, they stagger in their vomit like drunks. This means that they themselves have caused the misery in which they ended up. Foolish confidence in their own wisdom leads not only to a failure to give suitable advice, but also to a walk that causes others to follow the path that leads to destruction. They are in a state from which no one can redeem them ( ). The confusion and hopelessness are so great that neither the leaders, “head” and “palm branch”, nor anyone of the common people, “tail” and “bulrush”, can find a solution to start working on.

‏ Isaiah 19:13-14

Judgment on the Wisdom of Egypt

The proverbial wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22a; 1Kgs 4:30) fails (Isa 19:11). Zoan and Memphis (Isa 19:13) are the most important places in Lower Egypt. Memphis has been the capital of Egypt for a long time; later Zoan (Tanis) also became particularly important. The monarchs of these two cities seem to have no solutions for this malaise. The policy makers, the council of wise men, are in the dark about the cause of the misery. The LORD challenges the Egyptians to let their wise men come up and tell in the light of their wisdom what He has decided about Egypt (Isa 19:12). They cannot do that because they keep Him out of their wisdom.

Paul takes this word and says that it is in accordance with God’s wisdom that the world with its supposed wisdom has not come to the knowledge of God (1Cor 1:20-21). He then draws the conclusion that it has rather pleased God to save people through what the world sees as foolishness: the preaching of the cross (1Cor 1:23). This should be all the more reason for a Christian to consider the world and its so-called wisdom as crucified.

If the Egyptians are truly wise, they will recognize and announce that these disasters come from the LORD of hosts. They will realize that their wise men, who are the cornerstone of their society, upon whom everything rests, have led them astray. This is what the LORD has done, for He has poured a spirit of intoxication within their proud leaders as a judgment (Isa 19:13-14).

As a result, they stagger in their vomit like drunks. This means that they themselves have caused the misery in which they ended up. Foolish confidence in their own wisdom leads not only to a failure to give suitable advice, but also to a walk that causes others to follow the path that leads to destruction.

They are in a state from which no one can redeem them (Isa 19:15). The confusion and hopelessness are so great that neither the leaders, “head” and “palm branch”, nor anyone of the common people, “tail” and “bulrush”, can find a solution to start working on.