As a slow learner

Isaiah 44:6-8

For many years as a child and even into my adulthood I accepted a lie about my intelligence, and my lack of learning was equated to a low I.Q. and not to any of the problems we understand today as deterrents to learning.  My poor mother’s first two children were great students, they enjoyed reading and it was a rare time when they made a “B” on their report cards.  For me it was common to make a “D” and very exceptional to make a “B”.  For me it was the draw of climbing a tree or playing ball, over reading or studying a book.  Mother would often tell me I was stupid or dumb, and even as an adult she would tell me that I was a long way from being one of the brighter ones in the family.  I was a slow learner and when I would mess up as an adult, I would always go to the dumb card, but thank God Jan was there to tell me it was a lie from the one who came to destroy you, and she was 100% correct.  Now that does not change the fact about my lack of studying, and my lack of education would be a deterrent in all aspects of life.

So how does the above story have any relevance to Isaiah 44:6-8?  A great question, for often I’ve tried the dumb card on God, have you ever used it with God?  When little gods creep into our lives and the Holy Spirit confronts us with, “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me?  Let him proclaim it.  Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed and ancient people.  Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.  Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it?  And you are my witnesses!  Is there a God besides me?  There is no Rock; I know not any.”  So what does a high or low I.Q. follower of Jesus Christ do when confronted with these idols, these little gods whom God proclaims are not gods, but become sources of worship? 

We will learn in the verses that follow that the idols were made by a craftsman who was skillful with wood, gold, and silver and behind their actions was the old serpent, that Jesus refers to as the thief in John 10:10.  But in the Western culture we do not bow down to idols made by the hands of skillful craftsman, do we?  The old serpent, the one who deceived Eve in the garden, has changed the idols, to dogs and cats, sports, material possessions, or the lack of them, to occupations, and to blessings, like our children, or grandchildren, it is all inclusive; anything taking God’s place, anything you value more than Him.  Anything which takes the place of God in your life is an idol, and God who is jealous will confront His children with this message: “I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”

No one but God knows what tomorrow will bring, and He has given us insight through His prophets.  In verse eight, we are moved to a courtroom setting and we His people will witness to the fact that only God is a Rock, a place of refuge and protection in all the storms, and not the false gods we run to.

As a slow learner, one who has put their trust in men, in success, in material possessions, 

in government, in my status in the church, and in myself; I’ve come to this conclusion; it is 

absolute futility putting our hope anywhere but in our LORD.  This is from the Teacher, 

son of David, king of Jerusalem.  “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! 

All is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2 ESV)  And this is how Solomon ended his council: “The end 

of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the 

whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, 

whether good or evil.”  (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice