No one ever does a dumb thing. We may say that something is dumb, we may talk about how crazy we are, but when we go ahead and do it, it is because we think we can get away with it.

I remember when I stepped off the roof onto the top of the step-ladder that was below me. I knew that there were labels saying that one should not stand on the top rung. I knew that there was a chance it would go over. But I needed to get something and I thought that if I was careful, I would be ok. Obviously the wrong conclusion. Would I do it again? Only if I thought it was safe!

The point of this is that we are not as smart as we think we are. But because we are not as smart as we think we are, we are unaware of those areas in which we lack wisdom.

For example, the Bible says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no god.’” The atheist is convinced of his or her position. He looks at those who believe in God as fools, as people who are not as smart as they think they are. Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and other popular atheistic writers spin a good tale, but the Bible clearly states that they are not as smart as they think. For, “the fool has said in his heart there is no god.”

Our problem is that we are smarter than we think. We read these books and are influenced by them. We watch fornication on the TV and think that we will not be influenced by the barrage of information.

Think about the changes that have taken place in our country. At one time if two people lived together outside of marriage the community would have come together to say, “this isn’t right.” Today the community comes together to say, “What they want to do is just fine if they want to do it.” Where do you stand as a Christian? Or there was a time that homosexuality was in the closet and considered a sin. Now there is talk of gay marriage, gay rights, gay lifestyle. Where do you stand as a Christian?
Some of us think that we can marry an unbeliever with no consequences. But the Bible and history has shown that you will have to compromise your faith to do so. You can disagree, but you stand against the clear teaching of the Bible. You may think you are smarter than you really are.

How many people are in debt because they thought they could finagle this and do that and take the risk and make it through? The text, “Owe no many anything” did not apply to them. We may think we are smarter than we really are.

Which brings me to our text today in Isaiah. We have been looking at the Servant Songs from Isaiah. These are descriptions of Jesus given by Isaiah in about 700 BC, 700 years before Jesus came. We are asking the question, “What did God find so delightful about his servant? What pleased him about Jesus?” God delighted in Jesus because he was gentle, just, and had tremendous ability. Bringing Israel back was too small a task, God made Jesus a light to the Gentiles.

This week we look at Isaiah 50:4-11 and we find this: God delights in the brilliance of Jesus.
“4 The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. 5 The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.

It is interesting when we read Isaiah in about 700 BC and then go forward to about 30AD to read this about Jesus.
“52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.” Luke 2:52, NIV.

It is obvious to me that Jesus gave God control over how much he knew. We know from scripture that Jesus was equal with God and that Jesus was God. But when he came to this earth he became a servant. He voluntarily put himself under the orders of God the Father. As such, he did not know anything unless God the Father allowed him to know. He did not know the time or hour that he would return. So he was educated as we are educated. He learned obedience, he learned math, he learned the Bible.

Even as an adult he was under the orders of God the Father. His education never stopped. “35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35, NIV. Every morning, morning by morning, Jesus listened to his Father teach him.

And Jesus was brilliant. His teaching attracted large crowds of people. He was a master teacher. More people came to hear him than came to hear John the Baptist, an outstanding teacher in his own right.

One story that I love to relate involves taxes.
“15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.” Matthew 22:15-22, NIV.

Imagine being an Iraqi citizen and having a government official and a Muslim cleric come up to you and ask this question, “Is it right for us to pay taxes to the US government?” That doesn’t happen, but let’s just say it did. The cleric resents the US presence and has resources to end your life. The government official is there to collect the tax. What do you say?

Jesus said, “Bring me a coin. Whose picture is on it? Give it back to the person whose picture it contains and give yourself, you, who are made in the image of God, to God.”

Amazing wisdom!
“30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30, NIV.

Think about these three areas, righteousness, holiness and redemption.
What did we think about being right with God before we became Christians? We thought we were pretty good. We didn’t kill anyone. We didn’t deliberately hurt too many people. We could look around and see a lot of people much worse than we were.

But what wisdom did Jesus give us that came from God? Jesus told us that we had too high an opinion of how good we were. Jesus told us that he came to die for our sins. He came to make us right. We learned that we are not right with God because we live right, though we are encouraged to do so, we are right with God because Jesus washed away our sins and made us right.

What about holiness? Are we holy people? We all fit on one of two sides of the coin. We either thought we were pretty good or we thought there was no hope because we were so bad.

Jesus’ message was that there is no one that can claim to be holy and no one that he cannot make holy through faith in his name. With that wisdom, with that information, we come to God knowing that we are holy, not because we are perfect, but because Jesus made us holy.

What about redemption? We thought we didn’t need redemption, that we were ok the way we were. But when the wisdom of God came through Jesus, we realized we were not as smart as we thought we were. We needed redemption, we needed saving and that Jesus saves.

Jesus is brilliant. He speaks from God. If a science professor or philosopher or TV analyst disagrees with Jesus, I view Jesus as smarter than any of them. Do you?
In Isaiah 50, there were some who did not.

6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. 7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! 9 It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who is he who will condemn me?

Notice the beating of the servant. People mocked him and spit on him. Why? Because of what he taught.

He is able to endure this, however, because he knows that when everything works itself out, he will not be disgraced, he will not be put to shame.

And neither will anyone else who follows his teachings. Have you heard the expression, “Hindsight is 20-20?” I will tell you that “Bible sight is 20-20” as well. We walk by faith and not by sight. Follow Jesus and his teachings and you will look back on what you do and how you do it with a sigh of relief.

You felt like letting someone have it but you forgave instead. A day, week or month later you find yourself glad you did. You wanted to curse your enemy, but you decided to bless them instead. You will be glad you did. You thought of living for yourself, but you chose to live for Christ. You will look back and be glad you did.
Jesus is brilliant. He is very intelligent. Trust him. Follow him.

They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up. 10 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. 11 But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.” Isaiah 50:4-11, NIV.