READ: Is. 46:1-13: Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; … they themselves have gone into captivity. Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from … the womb: Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry and deliver you. To whom will you liken Me … Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’ … I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel My glory.
When the LORD evaluates the idols worshiped by both pagan nations and Israel, they are found utterly powerless. Babylon cannot be saved. Bel and Nebo, Babylon’s idols, will fall (compare to Dagon in Samuel’s time) and will be carried away on the beasts of burden of their conquerors. But let all the remaining Israelites listen to the LORD and place their hope in Him.
How often must the LORD make this clear? Many chapters in Isaiah contain a call from the LORD to His people, urging them to recognize Him as the almighty God who is faithful to His covenant and full of mercy toward His people. Time and again, God must remind them of who He truly is.
In this chapter, the LORD again reminds His people that He has been carrying them since before their birth, pointing back to the time of God’s covenant with Abraham. He promises to continue this care, even into their old age (vv.3,4). To “carry” means to be near them with His help and salvation.
What foolishness to compare Him to mute idols! God is incomparable, especially in His redemptive power and omniscience: His words always come to pass. He works all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11).
Can we compare God to anything or anyone?
Sing: Ps. 138:4