Confidence in Human Wisdom?

Confidence in Human Wisdom? Devotional Reading August 16, 2023

The best advice that I ever read on patient care was from a Christian nurse who recommended all nurses pray for Divine wisdom and guidance at the onset of our day. A patient’s condition can change in a blink of an eye. Yes, nurses are highly trained in the assessment process, and critical thinking, and possess shrewd judgment, but theoretical knowledge and human wisdom are finite. With humility, we can never totally rely on our thought processes because there is always room for error when only using human wisdom.

“For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding…”—Proverbs 2:6

Many of us are familiar with the story of Gideon and the 300 men who won the war against the Midianites, yet the seemingly small details in this story [which many sermons exclude] provide us with insight into God’s Divine wisdom.

The Midianites Oppress Israel

The Acts of Disobedience: “Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years…” —Judges 6:1

The Consequences of Disobedience: “For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number, and they would enter the land to destroy it. So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.” —Judges 6:5-6

Evidence of God’s Love and Mercies: “…when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you and drove them out before you and gave you their land.” —Judges 6:7-9

God’s Reminder of the Israelite’s Commitment to Him: “Also I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But you have not obeyed My voice.’ ” —Judges 6:10

Despite Israel’s wilful disobedience, God did not forsake the people He loved with everlasting love.

Gideon, a Man of Valor: “Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!’ ” —Judges 6:11-12

As the story unfolds, we will focus on a detail about God choosing the 300 men mentioned in Judges chapter 7.

God’s Divine Wisdom of Identifying Gideon’s Valiant Three Hundred

“But the Lord said to Gideon, ‘The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there… and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you, the same shall not go.’ “So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, ‘Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.’ ” Verses 4-5

“And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water.” “Then the Lord said to Gideon, ‘By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.’ ” —Verses 6-7

The Situation that Human Wisdom Could Never Resolve

“Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.” —Judges 7:12

We know the end of the story, God brought victory to the Israelites.

Reflection: Where do we stand in our decision-making process of routine duties and unexpected life events? Do we pray every day for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and the gift of godly wisdom?

” ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.’ ” —Isaiah 55:8-9

At one point, all of us are guilty of not including God in our daily decisions and resolutions. Two aspects that we fail to realize, God pays attention to the smallest details that we overlook in our eagerness for self-reliance, and human wisdom can wishfully predict but can never guarantee the outcome of our decisions.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” —James 1:5, NIV

Our commitment to following Jesus changes our role from one of independence to one of Christ’s disciples who commit to surrender and follow God’s will, and obey His plans for our lives. Without praying for Divine guidance, we demonstrate a spirit of self-reliance and wilful disobedience to God.

Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. —Isaiah 55:6-7

Because of human wisdom [using our thought processes] we may not consider ourselves wicked or unrighteous. But when deeply reflecting on the definition of sin—transgression against God, not praying for godly wisdom places us in the same category of unbelievers who trust and rely on themselves.

God expects us to use the gift of our sound mind. Praying, studying the Bible, attending church, giving our tithes and offerings, striving for righteousness, loving God and others, extending kindness, and self-care activities such as eating a healthy diet, maintaining our physical safety, and being good stewards of our financial resources are behaviors and habits that every believer should possess.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” —James 3:17, ESV

Yet most of the time we also need help in those areas of daily living. Every decision that could impact your life with possible consequences, changing careers or jobs, health challenges, major purchases resulting in debt accumulation, all relationships, and marriage, selecting a Bible-based church or school for your children, and identifying people, places, and habits that would impact and change your relationship with Christ, must be brought to God in prayer.

One area in which we must always seek godly wisdom and direction is the use of our spiritual gifts. We may identify our gifts and talents, but cannot guess how and where God desires us to use them.

With humility, we serve Christ and recognize that our human wisdom is not only influenced by external factors, we cannot value or place our thoughts above God’s Omniscience and Divine wisdom which always brings us hope and an expected end. Imagine your life always being aligned with the will of God, never dealing with the mistakes or consequences of self-reliance.

Scripture: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes…” —Proverbs 3:5-7

Prayer: Lord, we pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge that we need spiritual guidance and Your Divine wisdom in every aspect of our lives. We ask for forgiveness of a spirit of self-reliance. Hear our prayer, O Lord that we ask in Jesus’ Holy name, Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries