Isaiah 46

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4, NIV84)

Isaiah often compared the idols of the nations to Yahweh. Their gods were lifeless images that had to be carried. When the Medes and Persians defeated Babylon in 539 BC, they hauled off the Babylonian gods Bel and Nebo. These gods were unable to save the Babylonians, so why would anyone want to worship them? The idols were so heavy that they had to be carried by beasts of burden. So how could they save anyone?

On the other hand, Yahweh does not need to be carried by the people. Instead, He carries His people from the womb to the tomb! He made us, and He sustains, protects and delivers us. What a contrast!

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, ‘Destroy him!’” (Deuteronomy 33:27, NIV84)

Last Sunday I saw Lacey, our daughter-in-love, holding her daughter Juniper who is almost 20 months old. Junie was dressed in a yellow Easter dress, and Lacey wore a matching yellow dress. Wild horses couldn’t drag Junie out of Lacey’s arms. She was nestled close to her mama’s heart and was content to be there. What a picture this is of how God desires to carry us!

But not everyone is content to be in the Father’s arms. All we like sheep have gone astray and turned to our own way. Like a toddler pulling away from his parent because something else catches his attention, we pull away from God to follow our own desires. Why do we do that? How much better is it to learn to rest in the Lord!

God created you for His purpose and glory. He cares for you because He loves you. You don’t have to carry Him, and His commandments are not burdensome. Rather, He is carrying you, and will continue to do so until He takes you home. So be still and rest in His arms.