Worship of God for our benefit
Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!” How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame. Who but a fool would make his own god—an idol that cannot help him one bit? All who worship idols will be disgraced along with all these craftsmen—mere humans—who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame. Isaiah 44:8-11 NLT
From the text, Isaiah provided a reassurance that the people of God should not be afraid in the midst of trials and difficulties. They have nothing to fear because they have been told in the past what the future holds. “Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God—the words he gave before the world began?” (Isaiah 40:21). They have been witnesses of God's faithfulness and they have seen how prophecies were fulfilled. There is no other god that exists that could provide triumph in the future and who alone can save. So Isaiah scorns the irrationality of worshiping idols. There is nothing noteworthy in their practice and it’s a practice is futile. Idol worship is frustrating and tiresome not God. Isaiah kept on coming back to idolatry because it was a big problem. It has to be rejected especially when God’s followers are convinced that there is only One true God. Worshiping idols will clog the inflow of God’s refreshing life flowing through within the life of believers. We need to seriously consider what Isaiah is presenting from the text. This world is crowded with idols. “What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation—a god that can’t even talk!” (Habakkuk 2:18). The idols that the Israelites are crafting are worthless. “Who but a fool would make his own god—an idol that cannot help him one bit?” (Isaiah 44:10). “...the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, wasting their time on worthless idols... Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!” (Jeremiah 2:8, 11). It is the One true God “who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow” (Isaiah 48:17).
Blessings,
