Isaiah 41:23
Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.
ISAIAH 41:23
This verse presses idols to reveal their supposed powers: “Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods.” The sarcasm is sharp: if you can truly foretell or do good or evil, then prove it. The historical setting features conflict with false gods and foreign deities that claimed control over destinies. The prophet exposes the emptiness of those claims by placing them in the gaze of God’s judges.
The core is the insufficiency of idolatry and the Lord’s superiority. It asserts moral accountability and the reality that God alone is sovereign over the future and moral order. It also serves as a critique of predicting power used to manipulate and terrorize. Theologically, it helps anchor the faithful in trust of the living God rather than the manipulation of predictions.
When you encounter crystal-ball claims—whether astrology, fortune-telling, or doom-and-gloom prophecies—measure them by God’s revealed will in Scripture and the fruit it yields in life. Choose to walk with truth, mercy, and humility, not control or fear-based tactics. Practice discernment by asking: Does this align with God’s character? Does it lead to love and justice?
Cross-References
- Deuteronomy 18:9-14
- 1 Samuel 2:3
- Jeremiah 14:14-15
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21