They know not the thoughts of the LORD

Micah 4:12

But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

Over the many eras and epochs and centuries, the people of Israel have been the brunt of the ridicule, the hatred, and the malice of many enemies far and near. They have gone into captivity and have received unfair treatment on many occasions. It seems to be enormously disproportionate. No nation has received the vitriol of other nations to the extent which Israel has received. And here Babylon is mentioned as that great kingdom that would come against Israel and take them captive. And then another battle that is alluded to here is the battle in the end of time when all nations shall come against Jerusalem. That is when they shall beat their plowshares into swords, and their pruninghooks into spears. And Christ Himself shall come and fight for Israel on that day as all the prophets declare in unanimity. But here in this verse, the Lord speaks of the nations who are gathered against Israel and how they gloat in their hatred. They will say, “Let her be defiled!” And “Let our eye look upon Zion!” They will feel triumphant in their hatred, and they will feel joyous in their mockery and their prideful gloating.

But they know not the thoughts of the Lord! They know not the end! They know not the Lord’s plans! But! There is always a “but God!” There is always what men think and then what God thinks. And the thoughts of man do not stand, but the thoughts of His heart stand to all generations. You see, here man thinks that he has won, has been victorious, and has crushed his enemies. But no! God is not finished! They know not the thoughts of the Lord. And still, to this day, man does not know His thoughts. They think that they have figured it out, and have conquered by their own strength, but they are wrong. Neither understand they His counsel. They do not know that what God has decreed many generations ago shall continue in full force and effect. They do not understand His counsel!

And dear friends, is this truth not equally true this very day? We may think that we have figured out the Lord’s ways and plans, and others think they have all knowledge. But may I gently remind you this day, that you do not know the thoughts of the Lord? Are not His thoughts higher than our thoughts as the heavens are higher than the earth? And are not his ways that much higher than our ways? We know not the thoughts of the Lord! Often, we do not understand His counsel. Some may say, “God is unfair.” “God is capricious.” “God is whimsical.” Why do they think this? For only one reason—they are operating in the finitude of their own mind, and they do not know the thoughts of the Lord. They do not understand His counsel. Now, my brother or sister, you may be at a conflict in your mind, and you cannot determine what the Lord is doing. This very day is the day in which you must trust Him. Israel had to trust Him in Babylon, and must continue to trust Him to this day, amid the hatred and variance of the enemy. But God has great and enormous and wonderful plans for them. So does He for you! You have no clue and no idea and no premonition of what all the Lord will do! Keep your eyes on Him and your heart steadfast in this truth. His thoughts and His counsel are much above us. No one knows, and neither do you. Leave it all in His hands, for His thoughts and His counsel are perfect.

“Now Father, we praise you that we can always trust your heart and leave our confidence in your thoughts and plans. For surely they are to give us an expected end. We praise you that you work for our good, for your glory, and to perform that which has been preordained from the foundations of the world. Mankind does not know your thoughts. Help us, Lord, to trust in your knowledge, your ways, and your doings. For our lives shall be much easier as a result. It shall bring immeasurable peace. And we shall praise you for it. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”