Read Isaiah 46-47
Passage chosen for devotion:
”To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble.“
Isaiah 46:5-7 ESV
Reflect
Worshipping idol made by hands are not new to the people of Israel. We have read in Exodus 32 on the infamous golden calf that the Israelite made to worship. God was furious as His people likened Him to the idols made out of gold, idols that don’t even move, respond or save anyone from trouble. The stubbornness of people’s heart is hardest to comprehend. Forgetfulness is another. People tend to see and touch to believe, and they are always quick to forget what God has done in their lives.
Relate
Wait..we may say…we don’t worship idols and neither do we practice pagan worship. What has this passage got to do with me?
In a society where success is measured by wealth and possession, it is hard to be immune from the pursuit of materialism. Financial resources is important to ensure that we have the shelter, food and education for our children. But how much is enough? Does hoarding wealth makes us more successful, or at least more secured? Money is tangible as we can see and feel them, so they could give us a sense of security and certainty. We can’t help but to worry about setting aside sufficient education fund for our children or retirement fund for ourselves given this high inflation and interest rate environment. Does it then make the cold hard cash the “idol” made by hands for us to worship then, since they grant us assurance in this uncertain world.
How about material possession like a house and a car? Again in the high cost environment having a nice house and luxurious car become even more unattainable. But having them give us the sense of status and achievement, to satisfy our pride. I remember when I have my first continental car I washed and polished it every week. I felt so burdened that the sparkling clean car would go into the rain or dusty environment. So for a car which was supposed to work for me (as a tool of transport) now has now become my master (to be washed, taken care and adored). This can be burdensome and exhausting.
So does all material possession such as wealth and possession really give us all the comfort? Have they subconsciously become our “idol” that we can’t do without? The wealthy ones are kept awake by the fear of losing their money, investment or opportunities of not putting the cash to better use. If you have a nice house you will be concerned over its appearance and if you have a beautiful and flawless car you will be overly bothered by a small dent caused by other drivers on your car. So as the chosen passage says the “idols” are cumbersome, they have to be lifted, carried around, and set in its place. They can’t even move let alone save others.
But out our God does not impose any burden on us. In fact He is the one who lifts, carries, answers and saves us. Isaiah 46:4 says “even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save”. So would we be like those mentioned in the passage who create and worship their own idols? Would we continue to justify our actions of pursuing these idols? Or should we now focus on the one and only God who has lifted us up from the pit, loved and cherished us?
Rest
Father we choose to trust and believe in You even though human tends to rely on things that can be seen and touched. For the bible tells us:
Hebrews 11:1-3
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Amen
Alan Wong
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