Isaiah 46-48

August 5

 Isaiah 46-48

 God created humanity with a desire to worship Him. In our fallen state, we still have the innate desire to worship something, but we try to fill that desire with idols or false gods. Nothing but God can fill that desire. The Israelites attempted to follow the gods of the people around them. They formed idols out of stone, wood, or precious metals. The idols only heaped more burdens upon the people. They did not rescue the people from their burdens.

 God had other plans for Israel and for all the nations. His plan was to redeem Israel and all the nations and set them free even from the burdens they had placed upon themselves. He reminded Israel that He alone is God. There is no other God and nothing else can give us the fulfillment we find when we pursue a relationship with the One Who pursues us.

 Jesus said; "“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”" (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)

 We, like the Israelites, fill our lives with things that we pursue in the attempt to fill the void that can only be filled by God. Those pursuits, whether they be wealth, cars, houses, hobbies, whatever they may be, only bring a greater burden upon us. There is nothing wrong with any of these things in and of themselves, but when we try to use them to replace God, we get loaded down instead of set free.

 God knows us better than we know ourselves and He wants what is best for us. Jesus came to bring us into a right relationship with the Father. He came to bring us correction, redemption, and salvation. If we will listen to Him, He will give us rest. Jesus is our Redeemer.

 "This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea." (Isaiah 48:17-18, NIV)