August 25, 2011
Where do I start? The best place to start is at the foundation. The LORD is the only God—idols are useless. The LORD is the true God—false gods are useless.
This is what the LORD says:
The next verses (Isaiah 44:9–20) show the futility and stupidity of thinking man-made ideas or things (idols) can have any ability to protect or save you. Totally useless. Isaiah describes a man who cut down some wood. He burns the tree; uses some of it to keep him warm; uses some to heat his food; some to cast light; and then uses the left-over wood to carve a statue and claim it to be his god. Craziness! He didn't make the tree grow—God did. He didn't send the rain—God did. The wood used for the fire burns up and is gone. Yet, he somehow thinks a left-over piece of wood is what will save him! "He bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, 'You are my god. Save me!' " Isaiah goes on to say "These people don't know what they are doing." Three times he says, "they don't understand." They don't get it. They just don't get it. How can they think a chunk of wood can save them? How can they think anything other than God can save them?
I love the sarcasm of Isaiah. It's like he is saying, really? Really? Are you serious? Have you never thought this through? Seriously? Have you not thought, "I used the wood that was left to make this hateful thing. I am worshiping a block of wood!?" Have you never asked yourself how crazy is this? You would rather trust in your own skills, schemes, plans (or block of wood), than trust THE God? The beginning and the end? The Rock? The One?
Isaiah answers the "why." They are blinded. They have strong-armed God for so long (insisting on their own way), that now their hearts have become hardened. And now, "It is as if their eyes are covered so they don't see." (They) don't know what (they) are doing and (their) confused mind leads (them) the wrong way. (They) cannot save (themselves) or say, what I am holding onto is a false god. It is false hope. It is worthless.
We must always be on guard. Even the simplest thing (like wood) that has value and can be used for good things, can become an idol in our eyes. The problem of "I." I chopped the wood. I built a fire. I used what I did to keep warm, cook my food, light my way. I will make my own plans. I will devise something to save myself. I am in control. Useless—totally useless. Only God.
This is what the LORD says:
Isaiah 45 - God chooses Cyrus to help Israel. Cyrus was not a follower of God ("even though you don't know me") but God chose him to do His work. God's will WILL be done, and God will chose who to use; what to do; when He will do it; and how He will free His people. In this case He chose to use Cyrus, a king of Persia.
Chapter 46 - The false gods you think will help you are only heavy loads that must be carried. They only make people tired. The false gods cannot save them. All of you who believe in me—listen! "I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will do the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you."
"Can you compare me to anyone?" Some people are rich with gold. They weigh it. They make it into their god. They worship it, but it cannot save them from their troubles. "Remember, I am God, and there is no other God. I am God, and there is no one like me. From the beginning I told you what would happen in the end." (Psalm 150; Psalm 140) "A long time ago I told you things that have not yet happened. When I plan something, it happens! What I want to do, I will do... I will make what I have said come true. I will do what I have planned... I will soon do the things that are right. I will bring salvation soon."
Our faith and hope is in God alone. We are grateful for those who are helping defend us, but we realize that ultimately our defender is God and our faith and trust is in Him and in Him alone.
Addendum: 8/11/20 ~ "The storm" is over!! See: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!
Next Entry: Isaiah 47:1 – 48:22
Where do I start? The best place to start is at the foundation. The LORD is the only God—idols are useless. The LORD is the true God—false gods are useless.
This is what the LORD says:
- I made you
- I formed you in your mother's body
- I will help you
- Don't be afraid
- I chose you
- I will pour out water on dry land
- I will pour out my spirit to your children
- I will put my blessing on your descendants
- I am the beginning and the end
- I am the only God
- Don't be afraid!
- Don't worry!
- I have told you what will happen
- You are my witnesses
- There is no other God but me
- I know of no other Rock
- I am the only One
The next verses (Isaiah 44:9–20) show the futility and stupidity of thinking man-made ideas or things (idols) can have any ability to protect or save you. Totally useless. Isaiah describes a man who cut down some wood. He burns the tree; uses some of it to keep him warm; uses some to heat his food; some to cast light; and then uses the left-over wood to carve a statue and claim it to be his god. Craziness! He didn't make the tree grow—God did. He didn't send the rain—God did. The wood used for the fire burns up and is gone. Yet, he somehow thinks a left-over piece of wood is what will save him! "He bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, 'You are my god. Save me!' " Isaiah goes on to say "These people don't know what they are doing." Three times he says, "they don't understand." They don't get it. They just don't get it. How can they think a chunk of wood can save them? How can they think anything other than God can save them?
I love the sarcasm of Isaiah. It's like he is saying, really? Really? Are you serious? Have you never thought this through? Seriously? Have you not thought, "I used the wood that was left to make this hateful thing. I am worshiping a block of wood!?" Have you never asked yourself how crazy is this? You would rather trust in your own skills, schemes, plans (or block of wood), than trust THE God? The beginning and the end? The Rock? The One?
Isaiah answers the "why." They are blinded. They have strong-armed God for so long (insisting on their own way), that now their hearts have become hardened. And now, "It is as if their eyes are covered so they don't see." (They) don't know what (they) are doing and (their) confused mind leads (them) the wrong way. (They) cannot save (themselves) or say, what I am holding onto is a false god. It is false hope. It is worthless.
We must always be on guard. Even the simplest thing (like wood) that has value and can be used for good things, can become an idol in our eyes. The problem of "I." I chopped the wood. I built a fire. I used what I did to keep warm, cook my food, light my way. I will make my own plans. I will devise something to save myself. I am in control. Useless—totally useless. Only God.
This is what the LORD says:
- I saved you
- I formed you in your mother's body
- I, the LORD, made everything
- I made the skies
- I made the earth
- I made sure the truth is revealed
- I make sure lies are exposed
- I confuse those who don't come to me
- They think they know much ("on the cutting edge of everything")
- I make them look foolish
Isaiah 45 - God chooses Cyrus to help Israel. Cyrus was not a follower of God ("even though you don't know me") but God chose him to do His work. God's will WILL be done, and God will chose who to use; what to do; when He will do it; and how He will free His people. In this case He chose to use Cyrus, a king of Persia.
"Cyrus, I call you by name, and I give you a title of honor even though you don't know me. I am the LORD. There is no other God; I am the only god. I will make you strong, even though you don't know me, so that everyone will know there is no other God."That is our prayer, that everyone will know it was (and is) God who protected us from "the storm," no matter who He chooses to use to free us.
"From the east to the west, they will know that I am the LORD. I made the light and darkness. I bring peace, and I cause troubles. I, the LORD do all these things."
"I bring peace, and I cause troubles..." God causes the consequences for the sins committed by man. There is "fruit" to sin, and accountability does happen. Isaiah 45:9 - "How terrible it will be..." Isaiah says this three different times in two verses. "How terrible it will be" for those who insist on being their own god and argue with the God who made them, who won't submit, and instead questions His authority. "I will bring Cyrus" and he will "set my people free without any payment or reward. THEN everyone will know God is with you, and there is no other God."
That is our hope and our prayer. We've been held captive in "the storm" for many years now. Our prayer is that God, by HIS great power, would accomplish what appears to be humanly impossible, and that HE would set us free from those who are holding us captive "without any payment or reward." THEN all will KNOW it was HIS hand that freed us. That is our hope, our prayer and our belief. How that could happen? I have no idea. No human effort has been successful., but that is our prayer and our belief.
That is our hope and our prayer. We've been held captive in "the storm" for many years now. Our prayer is that God, by HIS great power, would accomplish what appears to be humanly impossible, and that HE would set us free from those who are holding us captive "without any payment or reward." THEN all will KNOW it was HIS hand that freed us. That is our hope, our prayer and our belief. How that could happen? I have no idea. No human effort has been successful., but that is our prayer and our belief.
The rest of the chapter reiterates who God is:
- Israel will be saved by God - verse 17
- The LORD created the heavens - verse 18
- God formed the earth and made it - verse 18
- I am the LORD - verse 18
- There is no other God - verse 18
- I am the LORD - verse 19
- I speak the truth - verse 19
- I say what is right - verse 19
- There is no other God beside me - verse 21
- I am the only good God - verse 21
- I am the Savior - verse 21
- There is no other God - verse 21
- I am God - verse 22
- There is no other God - verse 22
Chapter 46 - The false gods you think will help you are only heavy loads that must be carried. They only make people tired. The false gods cannot save them. All of you who believe in me—listen! "I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will do the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you."
"Can you compare me to anyone?" Some people are rich with gold. They weigh it. They make it into their god. They worship it, but it cannot save them from their troubles. "Remember, I am God, and there is no other God. I am God, and there is no one like me. From the beginning I told you what would happen in the end." (Psalm 150; Psalm 140) "A long time ago I told you things that have not yet happened. When I plan something, it happens! What I want to do, I will do... I will make what I have said come true. I will do what I have planned... I will soon do the things that are right. I will bring salvation soon."
Our faith and hope is in God alone. We are grateful for those who are helping defend us, but we realize that ultimately our defender is God and our faith and trust is in Him and in Him alone.
Addendum: 8/11/20 ~ "The storm" is over!! See: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!
Next Entry: Isaiah 47:1 – 48:22
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