God’s absolute and unrivaled wisdom is the bedrock of our trust in Him.
Isaiah was a prophet who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah between about 740 and 680 B.C., a time of great political turmoil. In this chapter, the prophet focuses on God’s incomparable greatness by proclaiming questions that emphasize the LORD’s self-sufficiency and supreme wisdom. He writes, “With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge and informed Him of the way of understanding?” (Isaiah 40:14). By posing these rhetorical questions, Isaiah highlights that no human mind could ever teach God or instruct Him in how to govern the universe. Isaiah’s setting—surrounded by nations that relied on human alliances and pagan deities—underscores the uniqueness of the LORD, who alone possesses all knowledge and power.
When Isaiah asks “Who taught Him in the path of justice?” (Isaiah 40:14), he underscores that God’s justice derives from His own perfect character. No one mentors the LORD or imparts wisdom to Him, because His understanding predates every source of human knowledge. Isaiah has already declared in this chapter that “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8), illustrating that while human power and insight vanish like dried grass, God’s wisdom remains unchanging. The New Testament later echoes this theme, asking “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?” (Romans 11:34). Like Isaiah’s questions, Paul’s words affirm that no one can add insight to the Lord, whose knowledge is boundless and unsearchable.
God’s eternal wisdom and justice offer comfort in every generation. Neither the most brilliant human teacher nor the mightiest empire can enlarge the LORD’s perspective. Isaiah’s prophecy reassures believers that God cannot be surprised or overruled, for He never depends on borrowed knowledge. In times of adversity or doubt, remembering Isaiah’s rhetorical questions can bring renewed faith that the Creator has perfect judgment, lacking nothing, and is ever able to guide His people by His infinite understanding.
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Isaiah 40:14 meaning
Isaiah was a prophet who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah between about 740 and 680 B.C., a time of great political turmoil. In this chapter, the prophet focuses on God’s incomparable greatness by proclaiming questions that emphasize the LORD’s self-sufficiency and supreme wisdom. He writes, “With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge and informed Him of the way of understanding?” (Isaiah 40:14). By posing these rhetorical questions, Isaiah highlights that no human mind could ever teach God or instruct Him in how to govern the universe. Isaiah’s setting—surrounded by nations that relied on human alliances and pagan deities—underscores the uniqueness of the LORD, who alone possesses all knowledge and power.
When Isaiah asks “Who taught Him in the path of justice?” (Isaiah 40:14), he underscores that God’s justice derives from His own perfect character. No one mentors the LORD or imparts wisdom to Him, because His understanding predates every source of human knowledge. Isaiah has already declared in this chapter that “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8), illustrating that while human power and insight vanish like dried grass, God’s wisdom remains unchanging. The New Testament later echoes this theme, asking “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?” (Romans 11:34). Like Isaiah’s questions, Paul’s words affirm that no one can add insight to the Lord, whose knowledge is boundless and unsearchable.
God’s eternal wisdom and justice offer comfort in every generation. Neither the most brilliant human teacher nor the mightiest empire can enlarge the LORD’s perspective. Isaiah’s prophecy reassures believers that God cannot be surprised or overruled, for He never depends on borrowed knowledge. In times of adversity or doubt, remembering Isaiah’s rhetorical questions can bring renewed faith that the Creator has perfect judgment, lacking nothing, and is ever able to guide His people by His infinite understanding.