11 [d]Thus you shall say to them, “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the [e]heavens.”
12 It is He who made the earth by His power,
Who established the world by His wisdom;
And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens.
13 When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,
And He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth;
He makes lightning for the rain,
And brings out the wind from His storehouses.
14 Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge;
Every goldsmith is put to shame by his [f]idols;
For his molten images are deceitful,
And there is no breath in them.
15 They are worthless, a work of mockery;
In the time of their punishment they will perish.
16 The portion of Jacob is not like these;
For the [g]Maker of all is He,
And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;
The Lord of hosts is His name.17 Pick up your bundle from the ground,
You who dwell under siege!
As this chapter continues, we see more contrast between God who made the earth, stretched out the heavens, and the gods who did not. As the Israelites joined themselves to other nations and embraced their worship of idols and false gods, they forgot something very important.
In v. 16, God reminds them that their portion “is not like these (men/nations who worship the work of their hands”. Rather, God, the Maker of all, is their portion. They are His inheritance, and He is theirs. Does that leave us out in the dark somewhere? Not at all, for Paul wrote that, “you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree…”
Israel was set apart by God, as a reminder to all that we are not created for selfish and vain ambition. Rather, God has extended His grace and love to us through Jesus’ sacrifice, once and for all. It is not your destiny to live a futile life on this earth and to rot in the grave. Instead, we have a higher calling, to know God and experience His love and goodness in our lives.
Unfortunately, our flesh likes to rule the roost, but we must not let it consume us and rule over us. We are no mere mortals, but soul and mind that God has destined for an eternity with Him. Just as our physical bodies cannot survive without food and water, neither can we live on bread alone (Deut. 8:3).
Truthfully, it isn’t difficult to remember to feed our flesh, but when we neglect our souls, we become like those in this passage, who are devoid of knowledge and will perish in the time of punishment. John made clear God’s intent, that “He is not willing that any should perish, but come to repentance…”
So once more we are (all) reminded, this is not your portion, to live and die, and become as dust. Rather, God created us with purpose, with eternity in our hearts, to pursue His goodness, wisdom, and everything that He is. Seek Him first, and all the other stuff comes after, but He is to be our ultimate goal and prize. “Pick up your bag”, and run the race He has set before you!