To make *idols in the beginning is hard work (see Isaiah 44:12). To have enemies who force you to carry your *idols to foreign countries, is also hard work. No *idol of a god can move by itself. Neither can it help. It has no life. • The *Babylonians had to make images of their own gods. And then t... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD PROMISES COMFORT TO HIS PEOPLE ISAIAH CHAPTER S 40 TO 48 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 46 THE END FOR BABYLON’S GODS V1 The chief gods of Babylon were called Bel (or Marduk) and Nebo (Bel’s son). The *Babylonians once proudly carried their gods’ images in happy... [ Continue Reading ]
God reminds his special people that he was ‘carrying’ (looking after) them even before their birth (see Exodus 19:4). He will continue to do so all their lives. BABYLON’S GODS CANNOT DO ANYTHING V5 ‘None is like me. None is equal to me. You cannot compare me with anyone else. V6 Rich people freely... [ Continue Reading ]
An *idol can be very expensive to make. But its maker has completely wasted his money. No *idol can ever do anything to help its owner. GOD’S PLANS NEVER FAIL V8 ‘Remember this, you people who do not obey God’s laws. Think carefully about what I am saying. V9 Think of all that I did for you long a... [ Continue Reading ]
God’s people must learn from the variety of methods that the *Lord used in the past.... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Lord has a great plan for history that includes both the past and the future. Isaiah 14:24-27 refers to the rise (success) and fall (defeat) of Assyria. Isaiah 19:12-17 refers to the defeat of Egypt and Tyre. Now, Isaiah 46:10-11 refers to the rise of Cyrus and the power of Persia. • But throu... [ Continue Reading ]
The fact that Cyrus happened to be a foreigner makes no difference. The *Lord chooses the person who will carry out his purposes. The *Lord chooses the tool for the job. GOD WILL SAVE *JERUSALEM V12 ‘Listen carefully to what I am saying, you people with hard hearts. You cannot believe that you wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Israel’s ‘hard hearts’ refers to the fact that the people were not willing to accept a foreigner as God’s agent (see Isaiah 45:9-13). BABYLONIAN ~ a person from the country called Babylon; or anything that has a relationship with the country called Babylon. IDOL ~ home-made image of a god. LORD ~ Go... [ Continue Reading ]