Isaiah 19:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

God desires to be recognized as the originator of both blessings and hardships: I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things (Isaiah 45:7), and: If disaster occurs in a city, has not the Lord done it? (Am. 3:6). Ignorance reflects His nature just as truth does. Observe the Ascalonians, who sinisterly marvel and say, Is this not the God who misled the Egyptians (compare 1 Sam. 6:6)? They believe we should not only fear Him who performs wonders but also Him who can lead astray from the righteous path. Being at ease and secure, they should not presume on this, as they may have ulterior motives: thus it is said, 'He deceiveth.' God cherishes humanity and does not wish for the cause of any misfortune to be attributed to demons, as the Greek philosophers posited a duality in divine power, assigning good to one group of spirits and evil to another. However, God's nature does not conform to this division. While it is acknowledged that some incorporeal forces can be wicked, they do not stand in opposition to the Lord nor are they equal to Him; rather, they are submissive to His authority, much like the varying moral states among people. A demon, as God reveals, cannot enact malevolence independently. It is written, I delivered unto Satan (1 Tim. 1:20). If Satan would not dare to act without exposing Paul, he is much less capable of executing anything without God's consent. If he is wary of the servants of the Lord and waits to hear their commands, much less would he act against God. Observe how, with God’s permission, he gradually approached Job. Reflect on the fate of the unfortunate Judas; initially, Satan hesitated to assail him without first gaining influence. Only when Judas distanced himself from the divine support did Satan gain entry. Though Judas had previously made a space for iniquity within himself through various transgressions, Satan lacked authority until Christ handed him over. Consequently, we understand the grave consequences of neglecting prayer and divine laws. They misled Egypt in all his endeavors, just as a drunkard stumbles through his own vomit.

When their counsel proved to be false and the prophets were revealed as deceivers, there was no one to guide them toward sound advice or righteous thoughts, rendering them ineffective. Eventually, they sought other sources of wisdom.

Many were astonished by the rulers of Memphis, the priests and sages who inhabited that city, regarded as having achieved the highest proficiency in sorcery, worthy of adoration among idolaters. The text points out that the leaders of Thanes were deemed inconsequential, while the rulers of Memphis seemed impressive and garnered marvel from the king and those around him. Yet, they too misled Egypt on a broader scale, influencing not just individuals but entire communities, as they were trusted despite their inability to offer anything genuinely beneficial. The text clarifies that the Lord stripped them of the spirit of deception, rendering their tongues incapable of speaking the truth; indeed, the speech of idolaters cannot contain the divine truth. Thus, they misled Egypt like a drunken person stumbling and spewing forth. Consequently, the work of the Egyptians will not yield any significant results which provide clarity or direction, nor will they achieve what is most desired as they fall into error and ultimately miss the mark. All human judgment is devoid of value, and any assistance proves futile when God sends adversity and places His mighty hand upon those who stray from Him, altering the very fabric of reality according to His sovereign will.