The Devotional – Idolatry is Foolish!

The Devotional – Idolatry is Foolish!

Comment: In Isaiah 44, the LORD speaks through the prophet Isaiah about man’s pattern of idolatry. Israel is God’s example to the world of how to live in God’s blessing or cursing and we would do well to learn from this. In the New Testament the apostle Paul encourages all gentile believers to flee from Idolatry. In 1 Corinthians 10 he explains clearly the failures of living under the influence of idolatry by using Israel’s example. Idolatry is a method of Satan to distract mankind from the True Worship of God the Creator, he (Satan) is a master of disguise, even to the transforming of his deception of darkness to resemble LIGHT. And speaking of this the apostle in 2 Corinthians 11:14 says this regarding false and deceitful workers within the church. “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Devotional: The trap of idolatry is not a visible avenue or street with gaudy neon lights. Idolatry has no bells or whistles to alert you or me to turn away. Also, idolatry can cleverly look as a path of gain, even profit, and this profit of course is not for the flock, but is for the one who decides to fleece the flock. Christendom is saturated with idolatry in the United States of America these days.

In Isaiah 44 we will see the subtle, or mentally keen way that man is led astray by idolatry.

Isaiah 44:1-5 – The chosen of Israel are encouraged by the LORD to look to Him for blessing, the blessing is not for the moment in time alone but also for Israel’s future. In Isaiah 44:5-8 – The LORD continues with His message “I am the First and the Last; Besides Me, there is NO OTHER GOD. And in verse 8, the LORD says again in these words, “Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other ROCK; I know not one.”

How then does idolatry crept into a man’s life? Reading from Isaiah 44:14 we see that those who willingly involve others in deception were first deceived themselves. The need for planting trees for wood to burn for cooking and warmth is a common welfare of life, it is a real NEED. Those who heat with wood today understand this. Also wood is very beautiful, the kinds of wood described (cedar, cypress, oak and pine) in Isaiah 44 make beautiful and useful furniture; these also make beautiful and deceptive idols.

Anyone skilled with wood can, occupationally do well cutting and selling firewood, furniture other carpentry skills. But what about the left over pieces or maybe the whole tree when it is taken for idolatrous purposes. Yes man uses God’s creation; half he burns to keep warm, with the other half he cooks or roasts his food for nourishment. When he is warm and satisfied, he needs to be careful for in an idle moment he can take the left overs and make a carved idol. His words to this thing of beauty. “Deliver me, for you are my god.”

Of course wood is only the object here and not the problem, idolatry is formed in the heart of mankind to purposely draw us away from the Creator, the tools and material used are all the work of God in providing man to walk humbly with God. Even the weights and measures belong to Him; we either glorify God in using the properly or we do the opposite by deception; Proverbs 16:11.