In Isaiah 41 Yahweh, through the mouth of the prophet, addresses the Gentile nations and invites them to gather together for judgment. He asks a series of questions in v.2-4 concerning a certain warrior from the East who comes in conquest. “Who raised up one from the east? Who in righteousness called him to his feet? Who gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? Who gave them as the dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow? Who pursued them, and passed safely by the way that he had not gone with his feet? Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning?”
While there are likely very different views on the identity of this eastern conqueror, that doesn’t really concern me at the moment. What is very clear is that Isaiah intends that each of those questions should have the same answer. Who is it that controls human history, the power of nations, and has directed the generations of mankind from the very beginning? “I, Yahweh, am the first; and with the last I am He” (v.4b).
There can be no doubt that the prophet is contending for the uniqueness and majesty of Yahweh over against all other gods and the kings of men. And Isaiah asserts in v.5 that all of the Gentile nations see this awesome display of God’s sovereignty exercised through providence, and in grave fear they came together as invited in v.1. But they display an incredible lack of awareness as to how to approach these circumstances when they say to one another, “Be of good courage!” (v.6). It is utter foolishness to be courageous in the face of divine judgment, and yet sinful man invariably attempts to strengthen his heart to withstand it rather than humbling his heart to repent and avoid judgment altogether.
Nevertheless, Isaiah records the actions taken by the Gentile nations to this invasion from the East in v.7. The craftsmen work together to build an idol which they hope will be able to deliver them from the wrath of God. They fashion it out of gold and hammer it smooth, and all the while they encourage one another that their work will succeed. No detail is overlooked, as they carefully inspect even the soldering to make sure it is as perfect as they can make it. When the idol is finished, they stand it up and use nails to hold it in place. Now they have a god who will help them, or so they foolishly believe.
The absurdity of their plan ought to be obvious. Men have made this god out of material elements, and it cannot even stand up on its own but must be held up with pegs. The idea that such a god could deliver them is absolutely and totally without merit, and yet they cling desperately to this fiction and congratulate themselves on a god well-made.
I love how Isaiah exposes their folly in v.8-10. He speaks directly to the children of Israel and addresses them as “My servant,” the “chosen” ones of Jacob and the offspring of “My friend Abraham.” That last phrase is jaw-dropping! Yahweh, the eternally self-existent One who created all things and rules over them supremely calls Abraham “My friend.” As good a man as we know Abraham to be from Scripture, it is still a shock to imaging the God of the universe calling him “My friend,” and yet he does.
The people of Israel, enjoy a uniquely blessed relationship with Yahweh which he describes in v.9. He took them from the ends of the earth and called them together to declare them to be his servant. Compare that to the call in v.1 to the Gentile nations to gather for judgment. He says, “I have chosen you and have not cast you away” (v.9). In spite of the fact that Israel has grievously sinned and brought terrible judgment on herself, and in spite of the fact that the Lord will raise up this eastern king to conquer, he has not abandoned his people nor will he.
He speaks words of encouragement to Israel in v.10, not unlike those which the Gentile craftsmen spoke to one another in v.6-7, with one significant difference. Their words were spoken by condemned men to condemned men and these words are spoken by the almighty Judge to his chosen people. They had no reason to take courage and ample reason to fear, but Israel has no reason to fear and ample reason for confidence, namely, Yahweh’s words, “I am your God.” Because they belong to the Lord, they have no cause for fear and every reason to rejoice in hope.
But I want to note the specific promise he makes to them here. He says, “I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” What a gracious promise! In the face of invasion and conquest, they have the assurance of divine strength, help, and upholding. The Lord will protect Israel as a nation and will ultimately restore her to a place of blessing and fruitfulness as the remainder of the chapter makes very plain. And we must see the very stark contrast between the hope of God’s people in v.10 and that of the idolaters in v.7. They are building an idol to rescue them from the judgment, yet their idol cannot even stand up on its own. It must be soldered together and nailed in place so that it doesn’t fall apart or fall down.
Those who trust in Yahweh, on the other hand, realize that it is they, not their God, who must be upheld and caused to stand. We freely admit that we are without strength and feeble, that we would topple at the first sign of danger, but thanks be to Yahweh, the one true God; he does not need us to prop him up, he is the One who props us up! We who know the Lord have been chosen by God and redeemed, and we, too, ought to trust him without fear in the face of life’s apparent uncertainty; nothing is uncertain in his providence.