Isaiah 44:9-20 – The folly of idolatry

God had emphatically asserted His divinity in Isaiah 44:6-8 and proved Himself as the only true God. Contrasting Himself from those idols, God alone could tell and forecast the future. Hence, it would be He alone who could rescue and deliver His people from the hand of their oppressors. Immediately, in Isaiah 44:9-20, He then proceeded to talk about the folly of idolatry and why it was foolishness to engage in venerating idols  The passage was probably addressing the problem of idolatry that was prevalent, close to Jews being led into captivity. God also intended to make known to the Jews that the idols of the captors could not prevent Him, the only true and powerful God, from rescuing them from Babylon. 

In these verses, God sarcastically described how idols were being made and how utterly foolish it would be for one to engage in worshipping these works of man’s hand. He began in Isaiah 44:9-11 by pointing to the futility of man-made idols. They did not possess any inherent power and would have nothing to benefit their worshippers. In fact, those who associated themselves with idols, whether in worshipping them or making them, would all be put to shame all at once.   

Mockingly, verses 12-20 describe the idols as being made by workmen who themselves were weak and weary and needing help themselves. The implication is that how could ordinary and frail humans make something greater than themselves? How could the works of their hands have the capacity to protect them? Furthermore, the tools they used to shape and fashion their idols, to make them stand on their feet, were ordinary tools used in carpentry. And the wood they used to fashion those idols was the same material used to create fire, to warm them when they were cold, and used as fuel for fire to do their cooking and baking. What is laughable was that they would use a part of the wood as fuel and the other part as material for their idol. So dumb and blinded were the idol-makers and worshippers that they were unwittingly being deceived and entangled in a grand scheme of self-deception. Their hearts were so misled that they could no longer discern a lie.

In these verses, we sense the call to wise up to the deceit of idolatry. People who become thickly involved in idolatry are spiritually blinded. Deceptions always begin in the heart. Hence the heart that is deceived cannot detect the delusion. It will take the power of God to help break the lies that lay within a deceived heart. Remember that the heart of education is the education of the heart. It is wise therefore to take heed of the exhortation of Proverbs 4:23. We must watch over our heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.” So for God’s sake let’s take care of our hearts!