Isaiah 41:22
Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
Isaiah 41:22 belongs with chapters 41 to 45, where God very fully reveals His purpose for His people. Those chapters should be prayerfully studied. The chapter is to be read with prayer and with unbelief put away.
The verse challenges false gods and all claiming divine power to bring forth and show former things and things to come, explaining former events and their outcome, so their claims can be considered, examined, and known. The power to reveal the past and foretell the future distinguishes the true God from false gods. The inability of idols to do this shows that they and their work are worthless, in contrast to the Lord, who alone declares His purposes, while idols are powerless.
The verse shows that God calls His church to have the wisdom of the Infinite at her command. God does not instruct His people to turn away from Him and His wisdom to look to finite man for wisdom, or to trust in men and make flesh their arm. They must look to His wisdom and trust in the Lord alone rather than finite human wisdom. The chapter shows that the Lord is not to be trifled with, that He calls His people to diligent and most earnest work for repentance, and that strength will be given to His own people.
The verse is part of a declaration from the Lord full of promises, encouragement, and assurance. It is given to comfort true believers amid the afflicting judgments coming upon the world near the close of earth's history with earthquakes, storms on land and sea, and heavy calamities. The word will certainly be fulfilled, and those who in these latter days fulfill its conditions place themselves where the Lord will surely do all He has promised, even while Lucifer wars against God and deceives many. The verse foretells the work of presenting the warning message to the world and explaining why people believe as they do.