The Resistance - Day 35
Day 35: Friday, March 17
Read Isaiah 44
Highlight
Most of Chapter 44 is a work of satire, where Isaiah is intentionally pointing out the absurdity of worshiping an idol. A single example of the satire is that the idol maker “feeds on ashes,” but literally in Hebrew it is he “herds ashes.” The scene is meant to be absurd - to care for the things of his god is to care for ashes. Verses 21-24 shows the power of God, including the fact that the very trees and mountains that idol makers would use to craft their gods are dedicated to the glory of their Creator.
It is easy in our modern world to agree with this passage that idolatry is absurd. Who could make a statue with their own hands and then believe it to be divine? But idolatry is not gone in our modern world and we should not dismiss this immediately. Listen to this definition of idolatry from Tim Keller’s brilliant book Counterfeit Gods and ask God to reveal to you your own idols:
What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give. A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought. It can be family and children, or career and kaing money, or achievement and critical acclaim… it can be a romantic relationship, peer approval… your beauty or your brains, a great political or social cause, or even success in Christian ministry.
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
Read Isaiah 44
Highlight
Most of Chapter 44 is a work of satire, where Isaiah is intentionally pointing out the absurdity of worshiping an idol. A single example of the satire is that the idol maker “feeds on ashes,” but literally in Hebrew it is he “herds ashes.” The scene is meant to be absurd - to care for the things of his god is to care for ashes. Verses 21-24 shows the power of God, including the fact that the very trees and mountains that idol makers would use to craft their gods are dedicated to the glory of their Creator.
It is easy in our modern world to agree with this passage that idolatry is absurd. Who could make a statue with their own hands and then believe it to be divine? But idolatry is not gone in our modern world and we should not dismiss this immediately. Listen to this definition of idolatry from Tim Keller’s brilliant book Counterfeit Gods and ask God to reveal to you your own idols:
What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give. A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought. It can be family and children, or career and kaing money, or achievement and critical acclaim… it can be a romantic relationship, peer approval… your beauty or your brains, a great political or social cause, or even success in Christian ministry.
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
- What truth does this passage communicate about God? About us? About our world?
- Has God used this passage to highlight something that is wrong in your life?
- What does this passage teach us to do? What is one practical thing you can do to apply this to your life?
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
Posted in The Resistance