Isaiah 46 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Isaiah 46 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


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.

2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

God says that he alone is God, and there is no one else like him. (Not even Jesus or the Holy Ghost?) How many gods are there?
Jesus Christ nor the Holy Ghost are different Gods. There is only one God. But there are different persons in the godhead. We might not perfectly understand that, but there is no reason we should. God has revealed Himself in his Word as one God, three persons, see 1 John 5:7.

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

(46:10-11) "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure."
Unlike the god of the process theologians, the God of Isaiah is in full control of his creation; he has pre-ordained everything.
I'm not sure what the author of the SAB means with “process theologians”, but his remark seems to be sound: God is in full control of his creation. His remark about “pre-ordained everything” seems to go too far though. God did not pre-ordain the Fall, else Adam and Eve would not have had a truly free will. But the Fall was no surprise.

11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:

13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.