March '25

"Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; 

their idols are on beasts and livestock; 

these things you carry are borne 

as burdens on weary beasts. 

They stoop; they bow down together; 

they cannot save the burden, 

but themselves go into captivity. 

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob, 

all the remnant of the house of Israel, 

who have been borne by me from before your birth, 

carried from the womb; 

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. 

“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" (Is 46:1–7).

Isaiah 40-50 is known as "the trial of the false Gods." It's the legal thriller of the ages. It's John Grisham on steroids. In these chapters, God takes his people to task over their idolatry. Instead of walking with the true God, following his laws, and hoping in his promises, they went after the idols of the nations. So Yahweh puts these Gods on trial.

These seven verses from chapter 46 show one instance of God comparing himself to these idols. The difference, we are told, has to do with "bearing," or more specifically, who bears who?

You Have to Carry Them!

Firstly, the Lord calls to mind the physical nature of these idols. In his law, the Lord forbids making images and statues (Exodus 20:4-6). This is not how his people are to relate to him. And this set them apart from the religious systems of the nations. Here, the Lord highlights the use of these statues and the mahi that's involved in looking after them:

"...these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts" (v. 1).

"They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it" (v. 7).

Or in other words, you have to carry them around! How do they even help? How do they benefit us? They make life less convenient and achievable. They rely on us for their existence. They cannot move ( v. 7). They cannot answer you or help you (v. 7).

The Lord Carries You

Secondly, the Lord calls us to look at him. "I'm not like them," he says. We don't carry the Lord. He carries us. “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; 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" (v. 4).

When you look back, you will see that the Lord has carried you. Christian, since your conception, the Lord has carried you. Even further, you have been on his mind since eternity past.

When you look forward, you can trust that he will continue to do so. The future is puzzling and concerning. Gray hairs (or more gray hairs) are waiting for you. The variables are seemingly infinite. But it's good to know that he will be there with you. He "will carry and will save" (v. 4). Paul writes: For I am sure that...things to come...will [not] be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ro 8:38–39).

The contrast is clear and the choice is a binary one: Will you carry or be carried?

He carries us as he justifies us by faith, completely apart from anything we do.

He carries us as he graciously gives us his Spirit.

He carries us as he includes us in his household.

He carries us as he lugs that cross up Calvary to take the wrath of God on our behalf.

He carries us as he prepares a place for us.

He carries us as he intercedes for us.

He carries us as he gives us a new body, something we are completely unable to do regardless of how much Loreal Paris we use and how worth it we are.

Jesus Christ says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Mt 11:28).

Phil Brown