Devotion - Tuesday, January 22

The prophets have a way of speaking the truth across the ages.  They use stories and images and they confront ignorance and idolatry in a way which does not immediately result in the shutting down of deliberations.

In Isaiah 44, the prophet speaks of a ridiculous way to do things.  The character cuts down a tree.  Part of the tree he uses to build a fire.  This fire warms him, and it allows him to cook his meal.  From another part of the tree, the man carves an idol, which he falls down and worships.  The prophet asks how something which the man himself has fashioned can be looked upon as one's hope for deliverance and salvation?

And we would tend to agree.  Wouldn't we?

But what if the prophet retold the story, speaking of something other than a tree.  What if the the raw material were the industrial complex, or winged flight, or the stock market, or advanced knowledge/studies?  The prophet's words point out to us that there are things which we have fashioned with our own hands which too easily become the idols we adore.

As I hope is true of all my sermons, this is not a scolding of anyone for making the wrong choice, it is an attempt to point out a missed opportunity.  The opportunity missed is coming to the water which satisfies all thirst; it is eating of the bread which nourishes our souls.