We’ve been looking at the names of God and how his names help us understand him better. This week I want to look at the name, ‘Wonderful Counselor’.

Isaiah the prophet prophesied a number of names about God’s Son: ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this’ (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Why, among other names, is Jesus called ‘Wonderful Counselor’?

It is because of the wonderful counsel he gives. God has all knowledge and wisdom. But he doesn’t keep it to himself. He passes it on to foolish and sinful humans.

There are innumerable examples of God’s counsel in the Bible. But I’ll give just one. When Jesus was confronted with difficult questions by his enemies he said: ‘Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away’ (Matthew 22:15-22).

That day even Christ’s enemies recognised the wonder of his counsel.

But Christ’s counsel is also wonderful because of the reward it brings. In the face of death, Jesus counseled his friend Martha: ‘Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ (John 11:25-26).

Is there no greater counsel than to believe in Christ in order to have eternal life?

So God is ‘The Wonderful Counselor’ who is above all the fallible counselors of this world. As Isaiah and Paul said: ‘Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”’ (Romans 11:33-34).

Is you God your ‘Wonderful Counselor’? Do you listen to his counsel? Do you believe his counsel? Do you put his counsel into practice so that you may have life and have it to the full? Or do you prefer your own counsel which brings only pain, death and eternal punishment?

Joel Radford