Isaiah 44:6-8
“Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one.” vs. 8
The people of Israel were captive in Babylon and the Babylonian gods were beginning to look pretty good. It seems that some Israelites were thinking about switching their loyalty to the winning team…like beaten down sports fans they were tired of losing! The prophet speaks to their fears as he declares once again that the God of Israel is the one and only god. The Lord who led them out of slavery in Egypt has not deserted them. In his words, “There is no other rock.” Of course that’s wasn’t the first time the people of God had wondered about such things…and as we see clearly in our time, it wasn’t the last. We look at crumbling cathedrals, ancient creeds, and dwindling denominations, and many wonder if maybe there isn’t some new god to worship…and there are certainly plenty to choose among. The cultural gods, those that promise wealth and health, are particularly attractive, while others are drawn to the American god, the one who promises to restore our nation to greatness. As we read Isaiah’s words we are reminded that there really is only one God, the God who was revealed most fully in Jesus, and that our one God, the one who was our help in ages past, is still the rock, and will be our hope for years to come.
Thought for the Day: When have I been tempted to switch gods?
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