Isaiah 44

Isaiah 44 emphasizes God’s unique power as the Creator and Redeemer of Israel, while exposing the futility of idol worship. It contrasts God’s steadfastness with the vanity of idols, urging the people to trust in their true Savior. God also reassures Israel of their restoration and blessings, ending with a prophecy about Cyrus, a ruler who will aid in Israel’s restoration.

Isaiah 44:1-5 (NKJV)
1 “Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen.
2 Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;
4 They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.’
5 One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ And name himself by the name of Israel.

In these verses, God reassures Israel of His continual care and provision. He reminds them that He is their Creator, the one who formed them, and urges them not to fear. The promise to pour out His Spirit upon their descendants is a symbol of spiritual and physical renewal, indicating a future restoration. The imagery of water represents refreshment and growth, and the people will proudly identify themselves as God’s people, signifying renewed devotion to the Lord.

Isaiah 44:6-8 (NKJV)
6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.
7 And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them.
8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’”

Here, God emphasizes His unique status as the eternal, sovereign Lord over Israel. He declares that He is the beginning and the end, the only true God. Challenging the idols, He asks if any can declare the future or perform the mighty works He has done. God calls Israel to witness His supremacy, reassuring them that there is no other Rock, a symbol of strength and protection.

Isaiah 44:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.
10 Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing?

These verses expose the futility of idol-making. The people who craft idols testify to their uselessness, as idols cannot see, hear, or speak. God points out the irony of humans creating something they worship, highlighting the foolishness of idol-making since it profits nothing and brings shame to those who trust in it.

Isaiah 44:11-13 (NKJV)
11 Surely all his companions would be ashamed; And the workmen, they are mere men. Let them all be gathered together, Let them stand up; Yet they shall fear, They shall be ashamed together.
12 The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals, Fashions it with hammers, And works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails; He drinks no water and is faint.
13 The craftsman stretches out his rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house.

Here, God highlights the absurdity of idol worship by describing the process of making an idol. The craftsmen, who are mere mortals, painstakingly create these objects, but the effort is in vain. These idols are just the work of human hands, lifeless and powerless. Despite all their labor, the craftsmen grow weak and exhausted, emphasizing the contrast between God’s infinite power and the futility of idols.

Isaiah 44:14-17 (NKJV)
14 He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress and the oak; He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it.
15 Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.
16 He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, ‘Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.’
17 And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, ‘Deliver me, for you are my god!’

The passage further emphasizes the absurdity of idol worship by pointing out how wood, a natural material created by God, is used for both practical purposes and to make gods. Half of the wood is burned for warmth and food, while the other half is carved into an idol to be worshiped. This satirical description highlights the illogical and inconsistent nature of idolatry, showing how misguided the people are in relying on what they create rather than the true Creator.

Isaiah 44:18-20 (NKJV)
18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand.
19 And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, ‘I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?’
20 He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, ‘Is there not a lie in my right hand?’

These verses emphasize the spiritual blindness of those who worship idols. God points out that their hearts and minds are closed to understanding the foolishness of their actions. They are unable to see the contradiction in their worship of something they have fashioned with their own hands. Their deception is likened to feeding on ashes, a symbol of emptiness, and they are so ensnared by this false worship that they cannot recognize the lie they are embracing.

Isaiah 44:21-23 (NKJV)
21 “Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!
22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel.

God now turns to remind Israel of their special relationship with Him. He reassures them that He has not forgotten them and has removed their sins, likening it to clearing away clouds. This calls for celebration, as God’s redemption is complete. Creation itself is called to rejoice because of the great work of salvation that God has accomplished for His people, Israel. God is glorified in redeeming His people and restoring them to Himself.

Isaiah 44:24-28 (NKJV)
24 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;
25 Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness;
26 Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’ And I will raise up her waste places;
27 Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers’;
28 Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’”

In this final section, God reaffirms His power as the Creator and Redeemer of Israel, capable of frustrating the plans of false prophets and those who rely on worldly wisdom. He declares His plans to restore Jerusalem and rebuild its cities, bringing life to what was desolate. God prophesies about Cyrus, a ruler who will play a crucial role in the restoration of Jerusalem. Though not a follower of God, Cyrus will serve as God’s instrument to fulfill His divine purposes.