Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 28:29

"This also cometh forth from Jehovah of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom." — Isaiah 28:29 (ASV)

This also comes... — That is, these various devices for threshing his grain come from the Lord no less than the skill with which he tills his land .

And excellent in working—Or rather, who magnifies (חגדיל chigdiyl) His wisdom (תוּשׁיה tûshı̂yâh). This word properly means wisdom or understanding (Job 11:6; Job 12:16; Job 26:3; Proverbs 3:21; Proverbs 8:14; Proverbs 18:1). The idea of the prophet is that God, who had so wisely taught the farmer and instructed him to use such various methods in his husbandry, would also Himself be wise and would pursue similar methods with His people. He would not always pursue the same unvarying course, but would vary His dispensations as they should need, and as would best secure their holiness and happiness. We see:

1. The reason for afflictions. It is for the same cause that induces the farmer to employ various methods on his farm.
2. We are not to expect the same unvarying course in God’s dealings with us. It would be as unreasonable as to expect that the farmer would always be plowing, or always threshing.
3. We are not always to expect the same kind of afflictions. The farmer uses different machines and modes of threshing, and adapts them to the nature of the grain. So God uses different modes, and adapts them to the nature, character, and disposition of His people. One person requires one mode of discipline, and another, another. At one time we need one mode of correction to call us from sin and temptation; at another time, another. We may lay it down as a general rule that “the divine judgments are usually in the line of our offenses;” and by the nature of the judgment we may usually ascertain the nature of the sin. For example, if a person’s besetting sin is “pride,” the judgment will usually be something suited to humble their pride; if it is covetousness, their property may be removed, or it may be made a curse; if it is undue attachment to children or friends, these loved ones may be removed.
4. God will not crush or destroy His people. The farmer does not crush or destroy his grain. In all the various methods he uses, he takes care not to pursue it too far and not to injure the grain. So it is with God’s dealings with His people. His object is not to destroy them, but it is to separate the chaff from the wheat; and He will afflict them only as much as may be necessary to accomplish this. He will not always be bruising His people, but will in due time remit His strokes—just as the thresher does.
5. We should, therefore, bear afflictions and chastisements with patience. God deals with us in mercy—and the design of all His dispensations toward us in prosperity and adversity, in sickness and in health, in success and in disappointment, is to produce the richest and most abundant fruits of righteousness, and to prepare us to enter into His kingdom above.