Isa 46:3 | KingComments | STEP | The rest of the chapter consists of three admonitions. The first is to Israel ( ), the second to the apostates of the people, those connected with the idolaters ( ), the third to the rebellious ( ). The first admonition reminds the people of their unique origins and support. As the seed of Abraham, they were formed and have been carried by God ( ) and He has cared for them from their earliest days ( ). That is the past. As for the future, He is the Unchanging. He promises that He will carry them ( ), a great contrast to the gods of Babylon that must be carried ( ) and are unable to help and carry their servants. It is the Lord Jesus Who “upholds all things by the word of His power” ( ). He it is Who “Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross” ( ). And it is also He Who as the High Priest now carries us on His shoulders and on His chest (cf. ). God bore His people on eagles’ wings and brought them to Himself ( ). It is an encouragement for the remnant to whom the LORD assures that His care for them will not fail in their exercises, no matter how long they take, no matter how old they get. It is also an encouragement for every old believer in our time. The question today is also: Do we carry the things we idolize or does God carry us? Idols like money and pleasure do not give support and outcome when life ends. Nor can they carry us through the difficulties. But those who know God, revealed in Jesus Christ, are carried by Him to and beyond the end of life to be with Him forever.

‏ Isaiah 46:3

The LORD Bears His People

The rest of the chapter consists of three admonitions. The first is to Israel (Isa 46:3-7), the second to the apostates of the people, those connected with the idolaters (Isa 46:8-11), the third to the rebellious (Isa 46:12-13).

The first admonition reminds the people of their unique origins and support. As the seed of Abraham, they were formed and have been carried by God (Deu 1:31 ; Deu 32:11-12) and He has cared for them from their earliest days (Isa 46:3). That is the past. As for the future, He is the Unchanging. He promises that He will carry them (Isa 46:4), a great contrast to the gods of Babylon that must be carried (Isa 46:1-2) and are unable to help and carry their servants.

It is the Lord Jesus Who “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Heb 1:3). He it is Who “Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross” (1Pet 2:24). And it is also He Who as the High Priest now carries us on His shoulders and on His chest (cf. Exo 28:12-29). God bore His people on eagles’ wings and brought them to Himself (Exo 19:4). It is an encouragement for the remnant to whom the LORD assures that His care for them will not fail in their exercises, no matter how long they take, no matter how old they get. It is also an encouragement for every old believer in our time.

The question today is also: Do we carry the things we idolize or does God carry us? Idols like money and pleasure do not give support and outcome when life ends. Nor can they carry us through the difficulties. But those who know God, revealed in Jesus Christ, are carried by Him to and beyond the end of life to be with Him forever.