God Carries and Cares

God reveals in Scripture idols are an unnecessary burden.  For all who are in Christ, if you find yourself burdened by anything it may be you have made an idol of something!  This fact struck me yesterday as I read Isaiah 46 and how the idols of Babylon were dead weight that needed to be hauled around.  Though they were spiritually powerless and "nothings," unable to hear the cries of worshippers or save them, they wearied those who struggled to carry them.  Isaiah 46:1-2 says, "Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle. Your carriages were heavily loaded, a burden to the weary beast. ² They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but have themselves gone into captivity."  It is ironic beasts that grew weary pulling heavy idols had more strength than the gods of Babylon which were useless and hopeless.

Later in the chapter God showed the futility of idolatry in Isaiah 46:5-7:  "To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal and compare Me, that we should be alike? ⁶ They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; they prostrate themselves, yes, they worship. ⁷ They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it and set it in its place, and it stands; from its place it shall not move. Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer nor save him out of his trouble."  The living God who created all things is nothing like gods people make for themselves.  People spent their gold and silver to make images which they bowed before in worship and carried around.  Wherever these lifeless, inanimate objects were placed, there they remained without moving.  As they literally remain unmoved, they could not be moved by the petitions of those who bowed before them; they were incapable of saving anyone or themselves.

God told His people to consider and hear Him in Isaiah 46:3-4:  "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: ⁴ even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."  The Creator and God of Israel is the one who carried the children of Israel from birth.  He had carried them before they became a nation, and He would carry them in their old age.  See all God had done for His people!  He made them, would lift them up, support and save them.  Who among the mythological gods or idols made by the hands of mankind ever said or did anything like this?  What idol has made a promise and fulfilled it?  Who is like the Most High?

It is folly to place idols made by craftsmen and the God who created everything on the same footing.  Knowing the one true God exposes all other gods and idols as nothing.  In the same way, Jesus Christ is infinitely superior to every other human being who has lived on this planet.  People who heard Him teach were amazed and exclaimed, "No man ever spoke like this man!" (John 7:46)  Without bragging or boasting, Jesus spoke the truth which was backed up in reality with miraculous signs.  When challenged concerning His authority to cleanse the temple, John 2:19-22 says:  "Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." ²⁰ Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" ²¹ But He was speaking of the temple of His body. ²² Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said."

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead three days after His crucifixion demonstrated His authority and power over sin and death.  If Jesus offered eternal life but was unable to save Himself, His words would have been empty.  Since He rose from the dead according to the Scripture and His own word, all who trust in Him have complete confidence Jesus can forgive sins, make us new creations, and one day carry us into His presence forever.  Following Christ is not burdensome but brings rest for our souls as is written in Matthew 11:28-30:  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  We are able to gladly carry the message of the Gospel to the world because Jesus carries us, and we can cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).  What idol does this?