Live in Reality, Not Delusion - Isaiah 40 - 45 - November 19, 2006

Sunday school Lesson – Live in Reality, Not Delusion – November 19, 2006

This is lesson three (3) in our series “Living Life to the Max.”

Our background scripture is Isaiah 40:1-46:13.

Our focus scripture is Isaiah 40:18-23; 41:5-7; 44:9, 18-20; 45:20-22.

Our study will explore the absurdity of idol worship. Humans make idols of many things. Some try to craft something that captures their image or concept of god. Many of us try to recreate GOD in our image without making a physical idol but creating a mental idol. We try to make HIM fit our concept, philosophy, notions or doctrinal beliefs.

We as humans can become disillusioned about GOD because we have studied the scriptures with veiled eyes or studied them with a bias, we miss the true attributes, nature and character of GOD. The Bible tells us, GOD calls all people to Himself and when we reject HIM, we condemn ourselves to eternal separation from GOD. Our attitude can block us from seeing the truth and knowing the truth in the scriptures.

Any thing, anyone, any concept or any idea that we elevate above the true and living GOD is idolatry. This includes our own concepts of GOD that are not founded and based upon HIS WORD. GOD wants us to live in reality not in delusion.

We as humans try to envision what GOD looks like. The disciples of JESUS wanted to know what GOD, THE FATHER looked like. JESUS gave them a beautiful answer in John 14:8-11:

8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?[5] Jn 10:30,38 The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe[6] Other mss read believe Me because of the works themselves.

Do we worship idols today? Absolutely!

Many people are willing to pay huge sums of money for a piece of toast with an image of JESUS or Mary. Others see an image of JESUS in a tree or on a piece of wood or in a cloud or etched in a stone and people flock to see it and some worship it.

Children have their favorite security blanket, doll, shirt or toy. Often, we as adults cling to items for our security – a rabbit’s foot, a four leaf clover, a cross, a St. Christopher, a favorite piece of clothing, Zodiac signs, etc.

Do you want to see the FATHER? Then behold the face of JESUS by becoming more like HIM through an intimate loving relationship with HIM and by yielding your life completely to HIM. Get to know HIM and the truth that is in HIM. Abandon all notions and concepts you have about HIM and seek the truth through the relationship with HIM by walking with HIM and spending time with HIM through prayer, studying HIS WORD and applying HIS WORD through obedient living.

This is not performance. This is not us deciding what we are going to do for GOD but it is being available to GOD in complete honesty and letting HIM build a healthy relationship with us and in turn letting HIM direct our lives. All notions and false ideas about GOD must go and we must embrace the truth as HE reveals it to us.

In the study of scripture in Isaiah, we need to keep in mind that GOD is revealing future events through Isaiah. GOD is doing this because HE knows when the Israelites are captured and taken into Babylon; they will be exposed to the worship of idols and will be enticed to worship them as well. Why? Because, those who are worshipping idols have defeated them and taken them captive to a foreign land. Therefore, their idol(s) must be more powerful than their GOD.

It is the same old story. Those who do bad things prosper and those of us who try to live a good life struggle. LORD why don’t YOU bless your children with things and stuff? GOD’S reply is always the same, “Seek the Kingdom of GOD first then all these things will be added to you.” Does this necessarily mean material blessings? NO!!! Which is better to be blessed with stuff or blessed with a loving intimate relationship with the living GOD of the universe? Some may say stuff will lead them to a more intimate relationship with GOD.

But as one who has sought stuff and never obtained enough stuff, I can tell you a loving intimate relationship with GOD is far richer and more satisfying than all the stuff or wealth the world has to offer. Seek HIM and you will find HIM. Wise men and wise women still seek HIM today.

So GOD is telling them, about 150 years ahead of time, what is going to happen to their ancestors, so they will know that HE is GOD. GOD knows all that HE is telling Isaiah will come true. It is given as if it has already happened. The Israelites will recall this scripture when the events recorded in the scripture happens and they will know that the true GOD had spoken about these things through Isaiah.

This scripture was given to Isaiah about 700 BC and Israel was delivered by Cyrus king of Persia in 539 BC. GOD even tells them that King Cyrus of Persia will deliver them. Once this took place the Israelites should see that GOD had told them what would happen about 150 years earlier. This should surely confirm to them that GOD is the true and living GOD they should worship. And not worship something crafted by man, using materials GOD has created. Any reasonably intelligent person should be able to see and understand that all idols are speechless, powerless and worthless. You need to examine your heart and realize your defeat and captivity is the result of sin and GOD is still WHO HE says HE is. Confess your sins to GOD, repent and GOD will restore.

Let’s read Isaiah 40:18-23:

18 Who will you compare God with? What likeness will you compare Him to? 19 To an idol?—[something that]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. a smelter casts, and a metalworker plates with gold and makes silver welds [for it]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. ? 20 To one who shapes a pedestal, choosing wood that does not rot?[9] Or who is too poor for such an offering, or who chooses mulberry wood as a votive gift; Hb obscure He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not fall over. 21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not considered the foundations of the earth? 22 God is enthroned above the circle of the earth; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 23 He reduces princes to nothing and makes the judges of the earth to be irrational.

GOD prompts Isaiah to ask the Israelites, who will you compare GOD with or to? Then HE says will you compare ME to an idol?

GOD then sets them straight about where idols come from. Idols are a product of man’s mind and creation. Idols are a figment of man’s imagination and are created from metal or wood that GOD has created. An idol is powerless. An idol cannot even stand up on its own power; man must craft a base, so it will not fall over.

Then GOD poses four questions HE wants them to consider, when they compare HIM to an idol:

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?
Have you not considered the foundations of the earth?

Have you people had your heads in the sand? I know that you have been told how I delivered your ancestors from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, fed them with quail and manna, provided them with water, parted the Jordan River, brought the walls of Jericho tumbling down and much, much more.

I have told you where an idol comes from but have you thought WHO made the earth from the beginning and where I reside? Don’t you know where wisdom comes from? You must focus your attention and place your faith in the only true, living, all powerful, all knowing, present everywhere at all times GOD of the universe, YAHWEH. There is nothing in the universe to compare HIM to! In fact GOD made the very materials used to craft idols.

Let’s read Isaiah 41:5-7:

5 The islands see and are afraid, the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and arrive. 6 Each one helps the other, and says to another, “Take courage!” 7 The craftsman encourages the metalworker; the one who flattens with the hammer [supports]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the one who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good.” He fastens it with nails so that it will not fall over.

Now we fast forward to the time when the Israelites are in captivity in Babylon. In Isaiah 44:28-45:1 GOD tells the Israelites:

28 who says to Cyrus: My shepherd, he will fulfill all My pleasure and say to Jerusalem: She will be rebuilt, and of the temple: Its foundation will be laid.

1 The Lord says this to Cyrus, His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to unloose the loins[1] To gird the loins is to prepare for battle (2 Sm 20:8), so to unloose them is to surrender. of kings, to open the doors before him and the gates will not be shut.

Cyrus was born in Iran and reigned from 550 BC to 530 BC. His army defeated many nations and they defeated Babylon in 539 BC.

GOD used Cyrus for HIS purposes to deliver the Israelites from captivity so they could return to Jerusalem and rebuild it.

Cyrus caused the nations surrounding that area to be afraid and tremble. This fear would drive those depending upon idols for protection to make more idols and even make new idols. They would sink deeper into their dependence upon useless idols rather than seeking the protection from the living true GOD of the universe.

How dumb can the people be? They seek the help of a useless idol that is powerless even to stand up. GOD is saying, “People think for just a brief moment, the idols you depend upon have to be fastened with nails so it will not fall over. It is powerless even to stand up. Think for just a quick moment, who made the material an idol is made from? GOD did! Shouldn’t you turn to GOD for your help? Instead the craftsman encourages the metalworker.”

Don’t we seek confirmation from fellow humans when things are not well in our lives? GOD wants us to come to HIM. HE is the ONE WHO has the power to come to our aid and to conquer our fears.

Let’s read Isaiah 44:9, 18-20:

9 All who make idols are nothing, and what they treasure does not profit. Their witnesses do not see or know [anything]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , so they will be put to shame.

18 Such people[7] Lit They do not comprehend and cannot understand, for He has shut their eyes[8] Or for their eyes are shut so they cannot see, and their minds so they cannot understand. 19 No one reflects, no one has the perception or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, I also baked bread on its coals, I roasted meat and ate. I will make something detestable with the rest of it, and I will bow down to a block of wood.” 20 He feeds on[9] Or He shepherds ashes. [His]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. deceived mind has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself, or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”

When we humans embrace false ideas, notions or idols they lead us into deeper despair. We blind ourselves to the truth and block our ability to understand what is wrong, unless our attention is turned to GOD.

GOD is saying anyone in their right mind should be able to logically examine the facts and conclude that idol worship is just plain dumb. Their eyes have been shut to the truth.

“Shut” – This was an Eastern custom where the eyes of an offender were plastered or sealed shut.

We can seal our minds, the eyes of our heart, to prevent the truth from GOD or HIS WORD from changing our belief system. This is a form of rebellion or stubbornness. GOD’S WORD tells us that rebellion is like witchcraft and stubbornness is like sin or idolatry. Rebellion or stubbornness can rob us of an intimate loving relationship with GOD.

1 Samuel 15:23 – This is when GOD rejected Saul from being king.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, HE hath also rejected thee from being king. (KJV)

Let’s read Isaiah 45:20-22:

20 “Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives of the nations. Those who carry their wooden idols, and pray to a god who cannot save, have no knowledge. 21 Speak up and present [your case]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. [8] Lit and approach [9] Isa 41:21–22 — yes, let them take counsel together. Who predicted this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the Lord? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is no one except Me. 22 Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other.

This scripture portrays a court scene. GOD is saying I have presented MY case how idol worship is dumb, now this is your opportunity to present your side of the argument. In fact, I ask you to counsel with each other to build the best defense possible.

There is one thing I want you to think about. WHO told you over 150 years ago that all of this would happen to you? Was it one of your dumb, powerless idols? NO!!!

It was the true, all powerful, all knowing, everlasting, living GOD of the universe!!!!

Doesn’t this fact alone confirm WHO I AM!!!

So turn to ME, because I alone am the ONE AND ONLY true GOD of the world, WHO can deliver you, restore you, protect you and provide for you.

GOD does not want us to even think of trying to create an image of HIM. Any false notions we have about GOD do not make them an attribute of GOD just because we think they are true. False notions about GOD will lead us to disappointment with GOD. Let GOD Himself create in you a new mind and true understanding of HIM and HIS true attributes. Live in reality and not in delusion.

GOD’S WORD is just as relevant to us today. HE spoke to us through the Prophet Isaiah in 700 BC to tell us about the coming Messiah, so that we would know that the GOD of all creation has sent HIS SON JESUS WHO is the LIGHT of the world. HE says MY WORD is all you need to know that I AM GOD. Nothing has changed. I have sent MY ONLY SON to die for your sins and to conquer sin and death. HE died where you should die, but, if you will ask HIM to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life HE will. To prove that HE is WHO HE says HE is, HE was resurrected from the dead. GOD gives us the HOLY SPIRIT WHO indwells us and reveals truth to us. GOD gives each Christian the gift of HIS grace, HIS righteousness, rebirth into HIS family and eternal life through CHRIST.

CHRIST in you will reveal Himself to you, if you allow HIM. All HE wants to do is create in you a clean heart and a sound mind. HE wants to love you and have a loving intimate relationship with you. Meet HIM in the eyes of your heart and HE will reveal Himself to you. As you study HIS WORD, HE will reveal Himself to you. HE will reveal truth to you.

GOD wants us to live in reality and not in deception in a world of fantasy!

If GOD has not measured up to your concept of HIM, ask HIM to reveal to you why? Confess the situation or circumstance in your life or your journey to HIM and ask HIM to reveal to you where and why you were misled.

My prayer is that all will know HIM through a deeper and more intimate loving relationship. Praise HIM, worship HIM, walk with HIM, talk with HIM, fellowship with HIM, get to really know HIM through HIS WORD and be obedient to HIM.

Live in reality and not in deception or delusion! Live in truth that can only be revealed by GOD, through the HOLY SPIRIT.

CHRIST in us, the hope of glory!