who's carrying who?...

"Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity.

"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. 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."

(Isaiah 46:1-4 NIV)

I was on a walk one day when I saw approaching, at some distance, a “very small woman” walking her dog, coming in my general direction. But as they drew nearer things came into proper perspective; she was not really a “very small woman” at all, but she was walking a very, VERY huge beast that I suppose you could call a dog. I casually maneuvered to the other side of the street so as not to impede their stride and progress (Okay, the massive beast spooked me and I was getting out of the way).

I guess we've all seen it, or something akin to it: a small woman walking a mastiff the size of a small horse that even my teen-aged soon could ride. And, really, the size differential doesn't even have to be that great. I've seen grown men with dogs no larger than a Labrador straining to control the zealous animal. We've all observed the scene of these dog walkers that causes us to wonder “who's walking who?”

A similar thought came to me as I pondered this passage about the gods of Babylon.

There is a prophecy concerning the Babylonian idol-gods which says they are a burden to be borne, to be borne by those who worship them; a weary weight that even the beasts of burden find difficult to haul. And in their distress, neither can save the other; they all together are hauled off into captivity:

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself.

(Deuteronomy 19:4)

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

(Matthew 11:28-30)

who's carrying who?...

Both the idols and their owners are bowed down.
The gods cannot protect the people,
and the people cannot protect the gods.
They go off into captivity together.

(Isaiah 46:2, NLT)

God alone had the power to save His people, and He did so over and over again!

Well, most of us aren't carrying around images of metal, stone or wood. No, our 'modern day idols' appear a little differently- the idols of pride, greed, lust, desire, fear... and the list goes on. Even things that are not bad or evil within themselves can become idols: family, career, social or ethic position, even ministry or service “to God.” Anything that contends or usurps the place of Lordship and affection in our hearts over and against the Lord God of Heaven is, in fact, an idol-god. And these things will also demand 'service,' demand to be carried, borne by those of us who will bow to them, serve them. All with the promise to deliver us, comfort us, but, in the end, will not fulfill us, and will have no real power to save or deliver us. On the contrary, they can lead us into terrible bondage and even death.

But the same God who carried His beloved Israel will carry, deliver and save those who call on Him in worship today! He has, in truth, borne the greatest weight and burden to deliver us: for through and in Jesus Christ the penalty of sin and death was borne and paid for by His sacrificial death in our place... all because of His great love for us! And Jesus invites us to allow Him to bare the burden of life with us:

I, for one, will gladly ditch the old idol-gods and take Him up on this offer. Life's journey is often difficult, and I'll gladly allow my loving Lord and Savior to help me bear this load. Let's 'lay down our idols,' and allow God in Christ to lead and carry us out of bondage, and into liberty... into Himself!

To the best of my knowledge all the idol-gods of the nations demanded service, and they, too, had to 'be borne' by their worshipers. But these deities, whether represented in or actually thought to imbue these images of metal, stone or wood, had no real power to save of deliver their worshipers nor themselves.

But the prophet Isaiah proclaims that Yahweh of Israel was different. Yes, His people were called to worship Him, but they were called, not merely into service, but into relationship with God, the God Who Himself bore His people. He carried them. God reminded the Israelites through Moses this way: