For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
The original Hebrew for ‘wonderful counsellor’ comes from the words meaning “a marvellous thing,” and “to resolve” or “to advise”. So here in Isaiah 9:6 we read that a person was coming to the people of Israel whose ability to advise and resolve would be astounding, unmatched in wisdom and ability!
Our world feels very unsettled at the moment: war rages on in several countries; famine is affecting those who were already suffering; national economies are not performing, leaving many to face financial hardship…the list of issues that can cause us to cry out “I have had enough, Lord” as Elijah once did (1 Kings 19:4 NIV) feels endless! But the prophet Isaiah spoke of a man who was to come into our tumultuous world – to live our experience first as a baby, then as a teenager and into adulthood – who would possess a wisdom unmatched by any other who would ever walk the earth. He will resolve and heal all hurt, injury and pain that we will suffer in our lives. The Lord Jesus Christ came, and his counsel is available to all who have trusted in him; have you sought him and his advice within your own circumstances?