Tag: No other gods

If there is one thing that God impresses on his people in Isaiah 43–44, it’s this: “I stand alone. There is no other God besides me.”

In Isaiah 43:10–11, he says,

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.

I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.”

And now again in chapter 44 verse 6, he again says,

I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

I suppose that it’s for this reason that Christians are considered “narrow-minded.” Because we won’t consider the idea of other gods.

But the question is not whether we’re narrow-minded. The question is whether we’re right.

If I insist to my child that 2+2=4, I’m not being narrow-minded, I’m simply telling it like it is.

And God takes great pains here to try to convince the Israelites that he alone is God.

First, he says,

Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one. (Isaiah 44:8)

First, God points to prophesy, that time and again he told the people what would happen and it happened.

Then he goes to his own personal knowledge. That he who knows everything and created everything, knows of no other gods.

As he said in Isaiah 43, while he created many things, he created no other god. Nor was there any god existing before him.

Then from verses 12–20, he challenges the people to think. The same wood they use to make their idols is the same wood that they burn to keep themselves warm. It’s the same wood they use to cook their food.

And yet they worship this piece of wood?

He asks them to consider the fact that it’s a human that brings the idol into existence. And yet, though the human created this idol, now he bows down before it asking it for help?

Is the created then greater than the creator?

And so God says,

Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel.

I have made you, you are my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you.

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.

Return to me, for I have redeemed you. (21–22)

What he told the Israelites, he tells us today.

“Remember that I alone am God. I’m your creator. And I’m your redeemer. Return to me. For I have paid the price that your sins may be forgiven.”

Let us always remember that He alone is God. There is no other.