Isaiah 46 (v9-10)

This chapter, as several before, presents God in contrast to the false gods of the nations around Israel.  Two are mentioned by name: Bel and Nebo (v1).  Bel is the equivalent of the Hebrew term “Baal”, meaning ‘lord’.  It could be used of any god, though if it refers to the Babylonian gods it refers to Marduk, their supreme deity.  “Nebo” was the son of Marduk, the “spokesman” for the gods.  A god by that name was also the supreme god of Nineveh.  The images of these gods were carried on beasts of burden when the armies went off to war (v2).  Having gone into captivity, these gods were unable to deliver their worshipers.

Unlike these gods, the LORD not only does not need to be carried by the people; He himself has carried the people and will continue to do so even to their old age (v3-4).  The gods of silver and gold cannot be compared with Israel’s God (v5-7).  Like Israel, we too should “remember” and “recall” the way that God, from ancient times, has been faithful to His word (v8-10).  He has done what He said He would do, time and again.  And this includes the “bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel” (v11).  This is likely a reference to Cyrus referred to in Isa 44 and 45.  God’s faithfulness will also extend to the promise of righteousness in the Messiah that will mean eternal salvation for Israel (v12-13).  

This short chapter speaks loudly today.  We may not be as familiar with the concept of “idolatry” because, at least in Western culture, we do not usually have shrines with gold and silver images in our homes or places of worship.  We must understand the nature of idolatry in ancient times and in other cultures today.  The worship involved the total lives of the worshipers.  They depended on Bel or Nebo or some other god for everything in life.  They prayed to them for daily needs as well as military victories.  They looked to their gods for safety and enjoyment in life, what the Hebrews called shalom (peace).  

Perhaps this helps us to think about our gods.  What are we dependent on for daily provision, for health and safety, for enjoyment and deep satisfaction?  Is it our money or material possessions?  Perhaps it’s our home or bank accounts.  Or perhaps we lack what we long for because we are convinced we don’t have enough of these “things”.  Either way, we are involved in the idolatry of materialism.  For others they must feel good to be satisfied.  Their lives are bound up in a hedonistic god.  And others worship at the altar of “me”, convinced that they can handle whatever comes.  They depend on their creativity or ingenuity or resourcefulness or personality or education.

Let us stop and consider this: in what do I trust?  Who or what is my god?  My god might be sufficient now; but will it be there for me in my old age?  How about the moment after death; will my god be there for me then?  The God of the Bible has “history”, a record of faithfulness.  There is none like Him, declaring the end from the beginning.  His counsel will stand.  He will do all His pleasure.