Scripture paints a picture of both a God and an ancient world that value learning, wisdom, and the observance of protocols. People were esteemed highly if they had a handle on all three of those areas. In fact, in order to be a leader in the ancient world, you needed to be intelligent but also well-versed in the ways of the land you wanted to lead. Long before Google and ChatGPT, people had advisers, wise men, and scribes ready to record events, recall information, and give advice from both their minds and the spiritual realm.
When Pharaoh had two disturbing dreams that he did not understand, “he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men.” (Genesis 41:8) A few generations later, when Moses and Aaron would confront the oppressive ruler of Egypt, that Pharaoh called for his wise men (Exodus 7:11). After asking the Lord for an understanding heart (1 Kings 3:9), Scripture explains that God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding, and that “Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men.” (1 Kings 4:29-30) “And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.” (1 Kings 4:34)
Long before Google and ChatGPT, people had advisers, wise men, and scribes
Wisdom, understanding, counsel, and knowledge aren’t only important to the Lord; they are expressions of His Spirit. They are part of His divine nature. Look at Isaiah 11:1-2:
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 4:7 tells us, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” These things are not only invaluable, but inseparable.
Wisdom, understanding, counsel, and knowledge aren’t only important to the Lord; they are expressions of His Spirit. They are part of His divine nature. Look at Isaiah 11:1-2:
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 4:7 tells us, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” These things are not only invaluable, but inseparable.
They can be divinely bestowed, as it says in Proverbs 2:6, but they can also be gained through learning, observation, and meditating on the Word of God. With all of that in mind, the back-to-school season takes on a new significance. Framed with the understanding of how important learning and knowledge are to our heavenly maker, the scales fall from our eyes, and we see that it is the beckoning of the Spirit of the Lord to come up higher, and an opportunity for elevation into spheres of influence and leadership.
This is true for all of us.
In the Kingdom, every experience, lesson learned, and piece of training has the potential to become a weapon in the hand of the Lord. God wants to use all of us for His Glory. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
The deposit that heaven has made in each of us is valuable, and value is meant to be stewarded. Consider the parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30. One servant was given five talents, another servant was given two talents, and another servant was given one talent. Each was given to steward according to their ability. A talent wasn’t merely a shekel or a coin. It was a weight used for monetary exchange—and a large one at that! Its exact equivalent varied across time and place, but it is widely understood that a single talent was considered a small fortune to many and represented more money than many in the audience had or would ever handle.
every experience, lesson learned, and piece of training has the potential to become a weapon in the hand of the Lord
Increase comes when we manage what we have already been given well. Advancement in academics is good stewardship of information and knowledge. Mastering skills when we are presented with the opportunity to improve is good stewardship. Even actions as simple as honoring instructors by being on time, listening well, and turning in assignments demonstrate good stewardship. Studying demonstrates good stewardship. And stewardship opens doors.
When God was giving Moses the blueprint for governing the nation of Israel, He did more than dictate a simple set of commands (see Exodus 31:1-11). He began to identify those whom He had chosen to fill specific roles and execute certain responsibilities. The design for building the tabernacle was detailed, but there were people who had been divinely endowed and also clearly trained in the skills that it took to execute those building plans. “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,” (Exodus 31:2-3) the Lord said to Moses. “And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you.” (Exodus 31:6)
The Bible doesn’t say that Bezalel, Aholiab, or the artisans suddenly woke up with the ability to create the things that the Lord required for the tabernacle. Instead, we are given the picture that these were hardworking, well-taught individuals who, by the enablement of God, were the best of the best at what they did. In fact, the word translated as gifted describing the artisans can also be translated as skillful.
Some of the most well-known Biblical figures submitted to intense seasons of learning. The testimonies of Daniel and the three Hebrew boys didn’t only happen because they acted in faith. They were prisoners of war who had learned the language, culture, and laws of an enemy territory and then stepped into leadership within its systems.
After they had been taken captive, Nebuchadnezzar called for “young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.” (Daniel 1:4) These four fit the bill and were assigned food from the king’s table and “three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.” (Daniel 1:5)
“God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (Daniel 1:17) They turned out to be the best of the best. “And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.” (Daniel 1:20)
It was this season of their lives, and the decision to lean into their God-given graces to learn, that positioned the four to step into leadership in Babylon. Once positioned, the hand of the Lord continued to move through and upon them in supernatural ways that brought God glory. For Daniel, those three years opened the way to over six decades of advisement to the royal court. What if they hadn’t taken the three years of learning seriously?
Even Jesus submitted to the process of learning. He was the Word made flesh, yet in Luke 2, we see the child, Jesus, “in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.” (Luke 2:46) In the same chapter, we see him honoring the written law of Moses and submitting to his parents (Luke 2:51). The Lamb of God who was slain before the foundation of the world loved the world enough to be born into. He learned to eat, to talk, and to walk. He built relationships. He had childhood friends. He learned the trade of his earthly father—carpentry. All the while, being God. All the while knowing that the cross was coming.
He went in love when the time arrived.
“If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15), Jesus told the disciples during the Last Supper. The greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-38). Taking this semester, school year—or any learning opportunity for that matter—seriously is an offering that pleases the Lord. As you head into this back-to-school season, endeavor to love the Lord with all your learning and to use what you’ve learned to serve others.
