We are in the Exodus chapter one with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. חָכַם be or become wise, act wisely, teach, to be or become marked by the exercise of good judgment. It is used 27 times in the Old Testament. It is used in the sense of possessing an ability that you can learn from. Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be וַחֲכָֽם wise! Proverbs 8:33 Listen to my instruction and be וַחֲכָ֗מוּ wise; do not disregard it. Proverbs 9:9 Instruct the לְ֭חָכָם wise and they will be וְיֶחְכַּם wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the תֶּחְכַּ֥ם wise. We also see that even being around people who are known for their good judgment one can also gain this skill. Proverbs 13:20 Walk with the wise and become חֲכָמִ֣ים wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
One of the most consistent themes throughout the Bible is the benefits of becoming wise from God’s perspective. Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making מַחְכִּ֥ימַת wise the simple. The key to wisdom is understanding where it starts because we can become wise in our own understanding. Proverbs 3:7 Do not be חָכָ֣םwise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This is what we see Pharaoh doing in our chapter today. His wisdom was not from God nor did it start with his fearing God. Exodus 1:9-10 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖הshrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” I’ll close with this warning of not understanding wisdom from God’s perspective. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
