I WILL CARRY YOU

Isaiah 46:1-13 / Keywords 46:4

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

 

46:1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low;

    their idols are borne by beasts of burden.[a]

The images that are carried about are burdensome,

    a burden for the weary.

2 They stoop and bow down together;

    unable to rescue the burden,

    they themselves go off into captivity.

3 “Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,

    all the remnant of the people of Israel,

you whom I have upheld since your birth,

    and have carried since you were born.

4 Even to your old age and gray hairs

    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

    I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

5 “With whom will you compare me or count me equal?

    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?

6 Some pour out gold from their bags

    and weigh out silver on the scales;

they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god,

    and they bow down and worship it.

7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it;

    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.

    From that spot it cannot move.

Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;

    it cannot save them from their troubles.

8 “Remember this, keep it in mind,

    take it to heart, you rebels.

9 Remember the former things, those of long ago;

    I am God, and there is no other;

    I am God, and there is none like me.

10 I make known the end from the beginning,

    from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say, ‘My purpose will stand,

    and I will do all that I please.’

11 From the east I summon a bird of prey;

    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.

What I have said, that I will bring about;

    what I have planned, that I will do.

12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted,

    you who are now far from my righteousness.

13 I am bringing my righteousness near,

    it is not far away;

    and my salvation will not be delayed.

I will grant salvation to Zion,

    my splendor to Israel.

Footnotes

a. Isaiah 46:1 Or are but beasts and cattle

 

1. With whom will you compare God? (1-7). Bel and Nebo were Babylonian idols. They were lifeless and carried around by animals. At a time of crisis, these idols could not rescue. They would be a burden to those who trusted in them. In fact, God would send these idols and their worshipers into captivity. Anything, like money, our abilities or even other people, that we trust more than God become an idol and can become a burden. These things cannot save us from our troubles even if we cry out to them. Only God is able to carry us and sustain us even to our old age – and beyond. There is no one like our God.

 

2. Remember this (8-13). The Israelites forgot God and became rebels. They were tempted by idols. They were stubbornly unbelieving and far from God's righteousness. God knows the beginning and the end. God's purposes always stand. He controls history. He would summon a bird of prey (Cyrus) who would fulfill his purpose of restoring Israel. God's righteousness was near. It was time for Israel to repent their unbelief and idolatry and receive God's salvation.

 

Prayer Lord, cleanse me of all idolatry. I believe you alone can carry me and save me.

One Word God alone sustains and carries us