We are in still in chapter seven of Exodus. Today we have three words for our word for today since they are all referring to the same group of counselors that Pharaoh called on. The first part of this group is called לַֽחֲכָמִ֖ים wise men the plural of חָכָם skillful, clever, wise, experienced, wise man. It is used 137 times in the Old Testament. The second name of this group is וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִ֑ים which is the plural of כִּשֵּׁף practice sorcery, sorcerer, enchanter. It is used 6 times in the Old Testament. And the last title of this group is בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶ֖ם the plural of חַרְטֹם soothsayer-priests, magicians, sacred scribes. It is used 11 times in the Old Testament. Let’s start by looking how it is used in our passage today. Exodus 7:11 Then Pharaoh summoned the לַֽחֲכָמִ֖יםwise men and the וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִ֑יםsorcerers, and they, the חַרְטֻמֵּ֥יmagicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. We are talking about having a group of people around the king to help him make better decisions in leading the country. Since we have already looked at כִּשֵּׁף sorcerer and חַרְטֹם magicians recently and the primary focus of this group is on providing wisdom to the King let’s look at חָכָם wise man. In the Bible we see our word used to show this group’s failure of wise counsel from limited and corruptible people. Psalm 49:10 For all can see that the חֲכָ֘מִ֤ים wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others. Ecclesiastes 2:16 For the לֶחָכָ֛ם wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the הֶחָכָ֖ם wise too must die! Isaiah 19:11 The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; the חַכְמֵי֙wise counselors of Pharaoh give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the חֲכָמִ֥ים wise men, a disciple of the ancient kings”? One of the reasons why “wise people” so often get it wrong is because we so often fail to recognize that we could be wrong and stay in our own limited perspective. Proverbs 3:7 Do not be חָכָ֣ם wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. Isaiah 5:21 Woe to those who are חֲכָמִ֣ים wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
We also see our word used to contrast the counsel from “wise” people with God’s counsel which is far better. Isaiah 29:14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the חָכְמַ֣ת wisdom of the חֲכָמָ֔יו wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish. Isaiah 44:25 Who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the חֲכָמִ֛ים wise and turns it into nonsense. Jeremiah 8:9 The חֲכָמִ֔ים wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of וְחָכְמַֽת wisdom do they have? Jeremiah 10:7 Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the חַכְמֵ֧יwise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. As we will see these so called “wise men” who Pharaoh surrounded himself with did not help him make good decisions. This is a good reminder that the people who are close to us do have an effect on where we will end up in the future. So let’s surround ourselves with godly people so that we can become more like Christ. I’ll close with this great passage about what true wisdom really is which is the kind of people that we need close to us speaking into our lives. Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the Lord says: “Let not the חָכָם֙ wise boast of their בְּחָכְמָת֔וֹ wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
