Isaiah 44:6-48:11
The Lord picked up where He left off yesterday, contrasting Himself
with idols. “This is what the Lord Almighty says, ‘I am
the first and the last; there is no other God. Who else can tell you what is going to
happen in the days ahead? Let them tell you if they can and prove their power.
Let them do as I have done since ancient times... Is
there any other God? No! There is no other Rock — not one!” (44:6-8).
Wow, He cannot get more emphatic than that; but, let me come back to
idols in a minute. I want to make sure that we caught another key prophecy
today, that of Cyrus the Great, future King of the Medes and Persians. After
Judah falls to Babylon, Babylon falls to Cyrus. The Lord told His people this
would happen more than a 150 years before it took place. In fact, Cyrus is not
even born yet, but the Lord is calling him by name and predicting his actions!
Here is what I mean, “This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, His
anointed one, whose right hand He will empower. Before him, mighty kings will
be paralyzed with fear. ‘I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the
mountains... I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of
Israel, the one who calls you by name. I called you by name when you did not
know Me...’ I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill My righteous purpose, and I will
guide all his actions. He will restore My city and free My captive people and
not for a reward...’” (45:1-13). What an amazing prophecy! Remember this day. I will mention it
again.
Now, back to God’s condemnation of idols. He is very sharp with His
words here. “How foolish are those who manufacture idols to be their
gods. These
highly valued objects are really worthless, for their idols neither see nor
know. No wonder those who worship them are put to shame... Such stupidity and
ignorance! He is trusting something
that can give him no help at all. Yet, he cannot bring himself to ask, ‘Is this
thing, this idol that I’m holding, a lie?’” (44:9-20).
The Lord connects idolatry to its source when He said, “The idols of
Babylon, Bel, and Nebo, are being hauled away on ox carts... Come, Babylon,
unconquered one, sit in the dust. For your days of glory, pomp, and honor have
ended... Calamities will come upon you despite all your witchcraft and magic. Call
out the demon hordes you have worshipped all these years. Let them stand up
and save you; but they are useless as dried grass burning in fire. They cannot even
save themselves!” (46:1; 47:1, 9, 12-14).
Daily Reflection
Idolatry is demonic, Satan’s attempt to steer you away
from the one true God. But we don’t worship idols today, do we? Of course we do. We trust in
our money, which drifts away like the wind. We trust in our health, which can
be snuffed out at any moment. We trust in people who fail us and forsake us. We
trust in ourselves, but we all know how foolish that is.
We make gods out of athletes, movie stars, historic heroes, pastors,
and politicians. We make gods of our cars, houses, clothes, and other
possessions. We worship at the altar of our work, our hobbies, our
entertainment, and our convenience. Everything in life is flimsy and
fragile. Why would we put our trust in any of it? What good will it
do us when trouble comes? Satan is setting us up for a fall; when the time is
right, he will pull out the rug.
In whom or what are you placing your trust? If your
trust is not in the Lord alone, then you have an idol. Satan will distract
your attention with idols every day. Tear them down! Burn them! Put your faith
in the one true God, alone!
BiAY.org |Day 205 — 160 Days to Go
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