Isaiah 41:28
For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word. For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
When God looked among people there was no one, no counselor among those consulted who could answer Him a word, which lays bare the limits of human wisdom. The verse stands in chapters 41 to 45, which very fully reveal God's purpose for His people and are to be prayerfully studied. It belongs to the Lord's declaration in chapter 41, which together with chapters 40, 42, and 43 is full of promises and assurance to be read for encouragement and for correct understanding. The chapter is to be read prayerfully with unbelief put away.
The verse teaches that God does not instruct His people to turn away from Him and His wisdom to look to finite people for wisdom, but to look to God for wisdom instead. Having blotted out their transgressions and redeemed them, God calls Jacob and Israel to remember Him, return to Him, and look to Him alone for salvation, righteousness, and strength. The chapter teaches people not to put trust in humans or in human power, for the Lord alone is to be their trust. The verse points to the need for daily counsel from God and appreciation of the light of His Word. The Lord is not to be treated lightly; He calls His people to diligent, most earnest work of repentance, and strength will be given to His own people.
The word is given to comfort true, sincere, humble, righteous followers of Christ amid God's afflicting judgments coming upon the rebellious world near the close of earth's history. Those judgments include earthquakes, storms on land and sea, and heavy calamities on sea and on railroads, in which many who have greatly sinned perish physically while the righteous are afflicted by the results. The word of the Lord in these chapters will certainly be fulfilled, and in these latter days those who fulfill its conditions place themselves where the Lord will surely do all He has promised. They need not be discouraged even though Lucifer, the fallen angel corrupted in higher education and at war against God and all who exalt Him, acts as a mighty deceiver who causes calamities and draws many away to unite them in deception.