Firewood to Idols
Have you ever chopped wood for a fire? I chopped firewood when I was much younger. It is hard work, and I admire those who do it more often. If you were like me, you had specific needs for the wood. Maybe you used it to keep yourself warm in the winter time. Perhaps you used it to roast marshmallows over a camp fire or roast hot dogs on a skewer.
I was reading Isaiah, Chapter 44 and some particular passages made me laugh out loud. The author was essentially calling someone out, and as funny as it was to me, it got me to thinking about how some in society today do the same thing. Suddenly, it wasn’t as funny anymore.
What does the passage say?
Isaiah 44:14 – 20 says, “He cuts down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or an oak. He let it grow among the trees in the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. It is mans fuel for burning, some of it he takes, he warms himself, he kindles fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. Half the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat, and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says “Ah I am warm, I see the fire.” From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down and worships it……No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, “Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coal, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?…….Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
I hadn’t thought about all the uses for a piece of wood
In summary, the same piece of wood has three uses:
1) He can use the firewood to keep himself warm.
2) He can cook food over the firewood.
3) He carves the wood into an idol to worship.
Let’s think about this for a moment…
The author is essentially saying, “Isn’t anyone smart enough to realize what’s happening here? Do you not understand what you’re doing?”
I think we need to go deeper in this passage…
Tomorrow, we’ll dive deeper into what the passage is saying. But for now, enjoy a little humor from the Bible and ask yourself this question – Do I have any idols in my life?
Let’s pray.
Father, I thank you for today’s message. I thank you Lord for the story in Isaiah. Lord, if today we have any idols in our possession, whether out of wood, metal or plastic or even of human sort, may we rid them immediately and seek forgiveness. In your Son’s name I pray, Amen.
In His Service,
Jeanette Duby, The Teaching Lady
#bridgetogracefl #idols #firewood #Isaiah
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