When the Almighty intends to unleash calamity upon humanity, the wisdom and might of all men become futile. For if you shut out man, who will open? - According to the words written (Isaiah 22:22). Thus, the wise men of Tanes, whom he dismisses as false prophets, along with those who carried out the divine rites in the temples, were exposed as utterly wretched, their sorcery rendered powerless by the very circumstances they faced.
How, then, shall you communicate to the king: "We are the descendants of the wise, the offspring of ancient kings"? Where now are your wise men? Let them declare to you what the Lord of hosts has in store for Egypt. For what merit will you boast of? What assistance have you provided to the land of Egypt that might inspire admiration? Or what advice have you dispensed to persuade the king that you are the progeny of wise men and sorcerers, who once held dominion over nearly the entire land and enjoyed esteemed reputations among idolaters? They consistently advised the rulers of the people, closely associated with them, as they consulted false gods on various issues. When it becomes evident that you are indeed deceivers and devoid of truth, how can you claim to the king that you are the offspring of the wise and the kings of yore? This prophetic speech directs attention to those who appear to embody wisdom. It then shifts to question those in power, asking, "Where are your wise men, and let them reveal what the Lord of hosts has in mind for Egypt?" For if they are not dishonest, deceitful, or sycophantic, and if they speak not from their own thoughts, but from the words of the Lord, let them inform you of the threats facing Egypt that are soon to be realized by divine decree.
Thus the prophetic word derides those who dwell in ignorance of the true God, ensnared in profound darkness due to their idolatrous ways. It is immensely foolish and utterly futile to place one’s faith in the deceitful practices of fraudulent clairvoyants. Lacking genuine insight into the future or the catastrophes sent by God, they exploit false divination to solicit wealth, feigning that the deities heed their words, all the while voicing only what aligns with their own wishes and misleading the hearts of those who follow them. They predict only what people hope for and speak only of what they believe will please their audience. The divine law, however, instructs us to avoid such individuals, warning us not to adopt the abominations practiced among other nations: that among you there be no one who sacrifices their son or daughter by fire, no sorcerer, magician, enchanter, or necromancer, for anyone engaging in these practices is an abomination to the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). It adds, "You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations you will dispossess listen to soothsayers and diviners; but the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so. The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet from among your brethren; him you shall heed in all that he may instruct you" (Deuteronomy 18:13-16). For anyone who turns to divination and omens, bird-watching, or the tricks of sorcerers will lack love for God and forfeit the beauty of true godliness. Conversely, one who heeds the words of the Gospel and recognizes the truth in Christ’s teachings will be truly filled with hope, for He is the Lord of the prophets and the source of all wisdom, though known as a prophet due to His humanity.
THEOSIS