Isaiah 44
44"But for now, dear servant Jacob, listen— yes, you, Israel, my personal choice.H8085H3290H5650H3478H9772GOD who made you has something to say to you; the God who formed you in the womb wants to help you. Don't be afraid, dear servant Jacob, Jeshurun, the one I chose.H559H3068H6213H3335H990H5826H3372H3290H5650H3484H9773For I will pour water on the thirsty ground and send streams coursing through the parched earth. I will pour my Spirit into your descendants and my blessing on your children.H3332H4325H6771H5140H3004H3332H7307H2233H1293H66314They shall sprout like grass on the prairie, like willows alongside creeks.H6779H996H2682H6155H4325H29885This one will say, 'I am GOD's,' and another will go by the name Jacob; That one will write on his hand 'GOD's property'— and be proud to be called Israel."H559H3068H7121H8034H3290H3789H3027H3068H3655H8034H34786GOD, King of Israel, your Redeemer, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, says: "I'm first, I'm last, and everything in between. I'm the only God there is.H559H3068H4428H3478H1350H3068H6635H7223H314H1107H4307Who compares with me? Speak up. See if you measure up. From the beginning, who else has always announced what's coming? So what is coming next? Anybody want to venture a try?H7121H5046H6186H7760H5769H5971H857H935H50468Don't be afraid, and don't worry: Haven't I always kept you informed, told you what was going on? You're my eyewitnesses: Have you ever come across a God, a real God, other than me? There's no Rock like me that I know of."H6342H7297H7297H8085H227H5046H5707H3426H433H1107H6697H30459All those who make no-god idols don't amount to a thing, and what they work so hard at making is nothing. Their little puppet-gods see nothing and know nothing—they're total embarrassments!H3335H6459H8414H2530H3276H5707H7200H3045H95410Who would bother making gods that can't do anything, that can't "god"?H3335H410H5258H6459H3276H111511Watch all the no-god worshipers hide their faces in shame. Watch the no-god makers slink off humiliated when their idols fail them. Get them out here in the open. Make them face God-reality.H2270H954H2796H120H6908H5975H6342H954H316212The blacksmith makes his no-god, works it over in his forge, hammering it on his anvil—such hard work! He works away, fatigued with hunger and thirst.H1270H2796H4621H6466H6352H3335H4717H6466H3581H2220H7457H3581H369H8354H4325H328613The woodworker draws up plans for his no-god, traces it on a block of wood. He shapes it with chisels and planes into human shape—a beautiful woman, a handsome man, ready to be placed in a chapel.H2796H6086H5186H6957H8388H8279H6213H4741H8388H4230H6213H8403H376H8597H120H3427H100414He first cuts down a cedar, or maybe picks out a pine or oak, and lets it grow strong in the forest, nourished by the rain.H3772H730H3947H8645H437H553H6086H3293H5193H766H1653H143115Then it can serve a double purpose: Part he uses as firewood for keeping warm and baking bread; from the other part he makes a god that he worships—carves it into a god shape and prays before it.H120H1197H3947H2552H5400H644H3899H6466H410H7812H6213H6459H545616With half he makes a fire to warm himself and barbecue his supper. He eats his fill and sits back satisfied with his stomach full and his feet warmed by the fire: "Ah, this is the life."H8313H2677H1119H784H2677H398H1320H6740H6748H7646H2552H559H1889H2552H7200H21717And he still has half left for a god, made to his personal design—a handy, convenient no-god to worship whenever so inclined. Whenever the need strikes him he prays to it, "Save me. You're my god."H7611H6213H410H6459H5456H7812H6419H559H5337H41018Pretty stupid, wouldn't you say? Don't they have eyes in their heads? Are their brains working at all?H3045H995H2902H5869H7200H3826H791919Doesn't it occur to them to say, "Half of this tree I used for firewood: I baked bread, roasted meat, and enjoyed a good meal. And now I've used the rest to make an abominable no-god. Here I am praying to a stick of wood!"H7725H3820H1847H8394H559H8313H2677H1119H784H644H3899H1513H6740H1320H398H6213H3499H8441H5456H944H608620This lover of emptiness, of nothing, is so out of touch with reality, so far gone, that he can't even look at what he's doing, can't even look at the no-god stick of wood in his hand and say, "This is crazy."H7462H665H2048H3820H5186H5337H5315H559H8267H322521"Remember these things, O Jacob. Take it seriously, Israel, that you're my servant. I made you, shaped you: You're my servant. O Israel, I'll never forget you.H2142H3290H3478H5650H3335H5650H3478H538222I've wiped the slate of all your wrongdoings. There's nothing left of your sins. Come back to me, come back. I've redeemed you."H4229H5645H6588H6051H2403H7725H135023High heavens, sing! GOD has done it. Deep earth, shout! And you mountains, sing! A forest choir of oaks and pines and cedars! GOD has redeemed Jacob. GOD's glory is on display in Israel.H7442H8064H3068H6213H7321H8482H776H6476H7440H2022H3293H6086H3068H1350H3290H6286H347824GOD, your Redeemer, who shaped your life in your mother's womb, says: "I am GOD. I made all that is. With no help from you I spread out the skies and laid out the earth."H559H3068H1350H3335H990H3068H6213H5186H8064H7554H77625He makes the magicians look ridiculous and turns fortunetellers into jokes. He makes the experts look trivial and their latest knowledge look silly.H6565H226H907H7080H1984H7725H2450H268H1847H552826But he backs the word of his servant and confirms the counsel of his messengers. He says to Jerusalem, "Be inhabited," and to the cities of Judah, "Be rebuilt," and to the ruins, "I raise you up."H6965H1697H5650H7999H6098H4397H559H3389H3427H5892H3063H1129H6965H272327He says to Ocean, "Dry up. I'm drying up your rivers."H559H6683H2717H3001H510428He says to Cyrus, "My shepherd— everything I want, you'll do it." He says to Jerusalem, "Be built," and to the Temple, "Be established."H559H3566H7462H7999H2656H559H3389H1129H1964H3245
Columbus, OH
