Isaiah 46:1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
Carrying an Idol
For years now my family has hiked Grand Canyon. If you have ever been to Grand Canyon, there is a very good chance you have seen beasts of burden. You have seen pack trains of mules hauling cargo to and from Phantom Ranch in the heart of Grand Canyon. I am amazed at the loads they carry.
Isaiah 46 is the picture of a beast of burden that is not carrying supplies, but carrying gods. Babylon had just been sacked, and Cyrus the Conqueror carried Babylon’s gods away with him. Verses 1-2 say, “Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast… they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.”
When Babylon sacked Jerusalem, the conquerors took the temple treasure because there were no gods for them to carry away. You cannot carry away the God of the universe. When the Medo-Persians sacked Babylon, on the other hand, they had all kinds of “heavy gods” to bear. These gods were made of stone or other materials.
Idolatry is when what we seek to lighten our load becomes the load. When God does not have His rightful place in life, every blessing you seek is a burden you bear. Some people seek money or pleasure to lighten their load, but find that instead of money or pleasure carrying them, those things must be carried. They worry about their money or status. In contrast, God carries His people. He says, “I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”
Are you bearing your gods about? Or are you trusting your God to carry you?