Lesson 17

All idolatry can be traced to Babylon, and Isaiah now contrasts the incomparable Jehovah and the pathetic made gods of man made religion. Isaiah opens chapter 46 with “Bel,” the generic name for any god but when used as a proper name referred to Mardok, the supreme deity of Babylon. Herodotus described the magnificent temple of Bel in the following manner:

“The temple is a square building, two furlongs each way with bronze gates, which was still in existence in my time. It has a solid central tower one-furlong square, with a second erected on top of it, then a third, and so on up to eight. On the summit stands a great temple. In the temple there is a second shrine lower down in which there is a great sitting figure of Bel, all of gold on a golden throne, supported on a base of gold, with a golden table standing beside it. I was told by the Chaldeans that to make all this, it would take more than twenty-two tons of gold.”

As the victorious Persians approached Babylon, the worshippers of these gods loaded them on beasts of burden. Isaiah 46:2 describes the act of removing the idols from their temple as, “They teeter and totter together,” which is a good translation. The point is that these gods who were once carried about with pomp at annual processions are shown as pathetically helpless. These false gods could not rescue themselves nor save their worshippers.

The God of Israel is contrasted as himself carrying His people in Isaiah 46:3,4. Here we see Jehovah God as carrying His people from infancy to old age. “I will bear you, I will carry you and will deliver you.” This is cradle to the grave protection. Perhaps it is time to ask yourself, “Is your religion carrying you, or are you carrying your religion?” The apostle Peter wrote, “Casting all your cares upon Him, for he careth for you,” I Peter 5:7.

As Isaiah contrasts Jehovah and the pathetic man-made gods in Isaiah 46:5-, you get the feeling that men worship their own workmanship, which is self-worship. If a man does not have much money his god is cheap; if he is rich, he has a rich god. This is all a form of humanism, which has made such great in roads into our society. Isaiah closes this chapter in verse 12 by assuring Israel that God does care and will bring future deliverance. The prophet sees by faith the glorious future of Israel and declares, “I will place salvation in Zion.” In the mist of trials, there will always be a stubborn group of people who will try to discourage the family of God. Never forget that God wants to carry you and not you to carry Him. Allow His everlasting arms to bear you up as you face the challenges of life.