Idolatry is Foolishness
August 24, 2022
Commentary
In this passage Isaiah describes how people make their own god’s. This exposure of idolatry is the most powerful in the Bible. How absurd to make a god from the same tree that gives firewood. It shows how those who make idols are just like them: blind and ignorant and nothing.
The graven image is called vanity which means nothingness (v. 9). The worthless things refer to the extreme adornment of idols with gold, silver and precious stone. Isaiah also suggests that the workmen, as well as the worshipers, are very foolish and should be ashamed (vv. 10-11). God made people in His own image and now they are making gods in their image. These helpless idols leave people without help or hope. The fact that craftsmen are nothing but men epitomizes the foolishness of idol-worship (vv. 12-13). It is utter foolishness when part of the tree becomes a god, and the rest of the tree becomes fuel for the fire (vv. 14-17).
Those who worship idols are stupid and blind (vv. 18-19). When a man cuts down the trees of the forrest and takes part of them to build a fire to warm himself and takes another part to make a god is overwhelming and illogical stupidity to Isaiah. He says that to worship wood is to fed on ashes and trusting in something that is totally worthless (v. 20).
The utter stupidity of idolatry and a pagan religion is exposed here to the most scathing attack in the entire Bible. The fact that a person would worship this so-called god is bad enough but that he prayeth unto it and expects it to deliver him is even more ridiculous. Do we make our own gods today of money, fame or power. If so, we only deceive ourselves and can not expect to be blessed.
Application
Lord help me to not seek my own gods of money, fame or power. If I do, I deceive my own self.
Isaiah 44:9– 20 (NET)
9 All who form idols are nothing; the things in which they delight are worthless. Their witnesses cannot see; they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame.
10 Who forms a god and casts an idol that will prove worthless?
11 Look, all his associates will be put to shame; the craftsmen are mere humans. Let them all assemble and take their stand. They will panic and be put to shame.
12 A blacksmith works with his tool and forges metal over the coals. He forms it with hammers; he makes it with his strong arm. He gets hungry and loses his energy; he drinks no water and gets tired.
13 A carpenter takes measurements; he marks out an outline of its form; he scrapes it with chisels, and marks it with a compass. He patterns it after the human form, like a well-built human being, and puts it in a shrine.
14 He cuts down cedars and acquires a cypress or an oak. He gets trees from the forest; he plants a cedar and the rain makes it grow.
15 A man uses it to make a fire; he takes some of it and warms himself. Yes, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Then he makes a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.
16 Half of it he burns in the fire— over that half he cooks meat; he roasts a meal and fills himself. Yes, he warms himself and says, ‘Ah! I am warm as I look at the fire.’
17 With the rest of it he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it, saying, ‘Rescue me, for you are my god!’
18 They do not comprehend or understand, for their eyes are blind and cannot see; their minds do not discern.
19 No one thinks to himself, nor do they comprehend or understand and say to themselves: ‘I burned half of it in the fire— yes, I baked bread over the coals; I roasted meat and ate it. With the rest of it should I make a disgusting idol? Should I bow down to dry wood?’
20 He feeds on ashes; his deceived mind misleads him. He cannot rescue himself, nor does he say, ‘Is this not a false god I hold in my right hand?’
Illustration: Indian Tribe in Mexico Worshipping God Pots
A few years ago my wife and I visited the Lacadone Indian tribe in southern Mexico who made god-pots with ugly faces and worshiped them. They would make an intoxicating drink from certain tree leaves. They would drink this and dance around these pots and fall in a drunken stupor. It is so stupid, but we even have educated people here in our country who worship crucifixes, beads, etc. and dance with other men’s wives while they get drunk. (Lou Nicholes – Missionary Author).