Read Numbers 21, Isaiah 44, Psalms 57-59.
This devotional is about Isaiah 44.
At the end of Isaiah 43, God said, “Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence” (43:26). Then God reminded Israel of their sins in Isaiah 43:27 and he reminded them of his punishment in Isaiah 43:28.
Now, here in Isaiah 44, God contrasts Israel’s spiritual failure in the past with his promise for better days–spiritually speaking–in the future. In verses 1-2, God reminded Israel of his electing grace and love to them. Then, in verse 2d, God told his people not to be afraid because he was going to revive them spiritually. Verse 3b says, “I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring” and verse 5 says, “Some will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand , ‘The LORD’s,’and will take the name Israel.” So God, the Father, promised to send his Holy Spirit to bring spiritual life to the people and God promised that they would genuinely embrace him and openly identify themselves as his people.
For that to happen, God has to be the one and only God, alone and unique in contrast to all other false gods that people worship. That is exactly what God claimed about himself in verses 6-8. Verse 6c-d says, “I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.”
Then, in verses 9-20, God contrasted himself, the one and only true God, with the ridiculousness of idolatry. These verses describe how human craftsman use their skills to make idols. The woodworker, for instance, cuts down a tree that he planted and nurtured. Then he uses some of that tree to heat his home, some of it to cook his food, and some of it as the raw material he uses to carve a god that he worships (vv. 14-19).
It is preposterous to worship something you made. That takes the Creator-creature relationship and turns it upside down. The true God says, “I made you, you are my servant” (v. 21c). But he also says, “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you” (v. 22).
In our culture, people don’t usually bow down to carved statues and call them gods. But we do crave material things and status objects. We do give undue attention to people who are famous, wealthy, and successful. No idol–whether a statue or a celebrity–can save you from your sin.
But God can, and God did (v. 22). So let’s make him the one and only object of our worship and love.