Mighty God: The Foolishness of Other Gods
Isaiah 44:9-20 (MSG)
All those who make no-god idols don’t amount to a thing, and what they work so hard at making is nothing. Their little puppet-gods see nothing and know nothing—they’re total embarrassments! Who would bother making gods that can’t do anything, that can’t “god”? Watch all the no-god worshipers hide their faces in shame. Watch the no-god makers slink off humiliated when their idols fail them. Get them out here in the open. Make them face God-reality.
The woodworker draws up plans for his no-god, traces it on a block of wood… Part he uses as firewood for keeping warm and baking bread; from the other part he makes a god that he worships—carves it into a god shape and… whenever the need strikes him he prays to it, “Save me. You’re my god.”
Pretty stupid, wouldn’t you say? Don’t they have eyes in their heads? Are their brains working at all? Doesn’t it occur to them to say, “Half of this tree I used for firewood: I baked bread, roasted meat, and enjoyed a good meal. And now I’ve used the rest to make an abominable no-god. Here I am praying to a stick of wood!”
Questions for Reflection:
- What are your initial thoughts and feelings as you read this?
- In this passage, the LORD is speaking to Israel through Isaiah. What do you imagine is God’s tone of voice as He says these words?
- Keeping in mind from Isaiah 9:6 that the Messiah is a Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, as well as Mighty God, what do you imagine is God’s tone of voice as He speaks to you about the idols in your life?
