Read
The Lord's Promise to Israel
1People of Israel,
I have chosen you
as my servant.
2I am your Creator.
You were in my care
even before you were born.
Israel, don't be terrified!
You are my chosen servant,
my very favorite.
3I will bless the thirsty land
by sending streams of water;
I will bless your descendants
by giving them my Spirit.
4They will spring up like grass
or like willow trees
near flowing streams.
5They will worship me
and become my people.
They will write my name
on the back of their hands.
6 I am the Lord All-Powerful,
the first and the last,
the one and only God.
Israel, I have rescued you!
I am your King.
7Can anyone compare with me?
If so, let them speak up
and tell me now.
Let them say what has happened
since I made my nation
long ago,
and let them tell
what is going to happen.
8Don't tremble with fear!
Didn't I tell you long ago?
Didn't you hear me?
I alone am God—
no one else is a mighty rock.
Idols Can't Do a Thing
The Lord said:
9Those people who make idols
are nothing themselves,
and the idols they treasure
are just as worthless.
Worshipers of idols are blind,
stupid, and foolish.
10Why make an idol or an image
that can't do a thing?
11Everyone who makes idols
and all who worship them
are mere humans,
who will end up
sadly disappointed.
Let them face me in court
and be terrified.
Idols and Firewood
12A metalworker shapes an idol
by using a hammer
and heat from the fire.
In his powerful hand
he holds a hammer,
as he pounds the metal
into the proper shape.
But he gets hungry and thirsty
and loses his strength.
13Some woodcarver measures
a piece of wood,
then draws an outline.
The idol is carefully carved
with each detail exact.
At last it looks like a person
and is placed in a temple.
14Either cedar, cypress, oak,
or any tree from the forest
may be chosen.
Or even a pine tree planted
by the woodcarver
and watered by the rain.
15 Some of the wood is used
to make a fire for heating
or for cooking.
One piece is made into an idol,
then the woodcarver bows down
and worships it.
16He enjoys the warm fire
and the meat that was roasted
over the burning coals.
17Afterwards, he bows down
to worship the wooden idol.
“Protect me!” he says.
“You are my god.”
18Those who worship idols are stupid and blind! 19They don't have enough sense to say to themselves, “I made a fire with half of the wood and cooked my bread and meat on it. Then I made something worthless with the other half. Why worship a block of wood?”
20How can anyone be stupid enough to trust something that can be burned to ashes? No one can save themselves like that. Don't they realize that the idols they hold in their hands are not really gods?
The Lord Won't Forget
21People of Israel,
you are my servant,
so remember all of this.
Israel, I created you,
and you are my servant.
I won't forget you.
22Turn back to me!
I have rescued you
and swept away your sins
as though they were clouds.
Sing Praises to the Lord
23Tell the heavens and the earth
to start singing!
Tell the mountains
and every tree in the forest
to join in the song!
The Lord has rescued his people;
now they will worship him.
Reflect
This passage is about forming and there are two kinds of forming going on. First, God is forming his people. The passage begins and ends with God telling his people to “fear not” because he has formed them, and as such they “will not be forgotten by me.” The second forming was Israel forming idols. In the midst of their problems, Israel was desperate to create a solution. And their preferred solution was to form an idol and then turn to it for help.
The center of the passage has God demonstrating the foolishness of trusting in idols: the things that we form to save ourselves.
These idols are formed by a craftsman who takes a block of wood, half of which he makes into an idol and the other half of which he burns to warm himself. He burns half and prays to the other half, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” God’s point is that the idol is completely dependent on the idol maker, and if the idol maker is in trouble, the idol is in no position to be of help.
This point is somewhat transferable: God made us and we are completely dependent on him. When we are in trouble, our help comes not from the work of our hands but from the one who formed us as the work of his hands.
We can look to technology, money and possessions to save us. Like the idol maker’s block of wood, these are all good gifts from God, to be received with thanksgiving, but we are not to look to them for salvation. The one who formed us will also save and redeem us. “You will not be forgotten.”
Respond
Heavenly Father, You formed me in my mother’s womb, you called me, and you will not forget me. Thank you for the goodness of technology, money and possessions. I receive them as a gift from you but I will not worship them or trust them to save me. You alone love me and never tire in your care for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Rick Hiemstra
Rick Hiemstra is Director of Research and Media Relations at the EFC. Prior to coming to the EFC, he served as a Wesleyan pastor and as a high school mathematics and computer science teacher. Rick speaks on Canadian church and cultural trends, including the new Renegotiating Faith research about emerging adulthood and faith formation. He has recently contributed to Canadian studies on Bible Engagement, local church missions engagement and emerging adulthood and faith formation. Currently he is leading a study on small evangelical churches and another on parental discipleship of children in the home. He holds a BMath from the University of Waterloo, a BEd from Ottawa University and an MTS from Tyndale Seminary.