ISAIAH 42
Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 “I am the Lord; I have called youin righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,7 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth, I tell you of them.”– Isaiah 42:5-9
ISAIAH 42 GOD’S INTOLERANCE TO IDOLS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
The Lord God made the heavens and the earth just by his breath alone
He gave his own image to man and claimed him as his own
He elected a few of them at the beginning of time to be his children
He promised to be their God as long as they remain faithful to him
He also vowed to take care of them and instruct them in righteousness
Because he is a loyal God, he expects the same devotion and faithfulness
God cannot tolerate any other idols for he is a very jealous God
He will not give to anyone or anything what only truly belongs to him
God’s wrath will be the consequence of anyone who praises other gods
These idolaters will become lifeless like their gods for the Lord alone gives life.
In this account, the prophet Isaiah speaks out the Lord’s declaration of who he is and a reminder of his covenant with those whom he chose to be his own people. In verse 5, God clearly proclaims his divine nature as the Creator of all things and the giver of life. This is what distinguishes the believer from the unbeliever: the revelation of God’s character and the source of life. Many different religions do not know who made them and what their purpose here on earth is. No other gods can give life to anything or anyone just by speaking life to it. Most counterfeit gods were usually created and carved by human hands or human minds which are not divine like the One true God. The Lord God Almighty has no beginning and no end. God’s religion according to the book of James is not a set of rituals to follow or step by step guide to reach perfection or reach their worshiped god. Christianity is a relationship-based faith and about rituals and rites. Most religions focus on the effort of man to reach their gods, but Jesus came down in human form to cleanse humans from their sins and have a clean slate with God when they believe in Christ. No pagan deity can speak, make promises and fulfil such promises. They cannot answer prayers because they are lifeless unlike our Lord and Savior. God made it clear to his children that he expects faithfulness from his people and will punish any form of idolatry and worldly worship.
REFLECTION
- How must a true Christian take the truth that God cannot tolerate idols and idolatry?
