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Isaiah 40:13-25 (MSG)

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¹³ Who could ever have told GOD what to do or taught him his business? ¹⁴ What expert would he have gone to for advice, what school would he attend to learn justice? What god do you suppose might have taught him what he knows, showed him how things work? ¹⁵ Why, the nations are but a drop in a bucket, a mere smudge on a window. Watch him sweep up the islands like so much dust off the floor! ¹⁶ There aren't enough trees in Lebanon nor enough animals in those vast forests to furnish adequate fuel and offerings for his worship. ¹⁷ All the nations add up to simply nothing before him-- less than nothing is more like it. A minus. ¹⁸ So who even comes close to being like God? To whom or what can you compare him? ¹⁹ Some no-god idol? Ridiculous! It's made in a workshop, cast in bronze, Given a thin veneer of gold, and draped with silver filigree. ²⁰ Or, perhaps someone will select a fine wood-- olive wood, say--that won't rot, Then hire a woodcarver to make a no-god, giving special care to its base so it won't tip over! ²¹ Have you not been paying attention? Have you not been listening? Haven't you heard these stories all your life? Don't you understand the foundation of all things? ²² God sits high above the round ball of earth. The people look like mere ants. He stretches out the skies like a canvas-- yes, like a tent canvas to live under. ²³ He ignores what all the princes say and do. The rulers of the earth count for nothing. ²⁴ Princes and rulers don't amount to much. Like seeds barely rooted, just sprouted, They shrivel when God blows on them. Like flecks of chaff, they're gone with the wind. ²⁵ "So--who is like me? Who holds a candle to me?" says The Holy.


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 18) Strength / Sovereignty / Power - To whom, then, will you compare God?

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 13) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 14) Prayer of the Righeous - More Powerful Than We Can Imagine (part II) (2013-03-06)
(v. 14) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 15) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 15) Fearing God - Infinitely Greater Than Nations (2011-07-29)
(v. 16) Fearing God - Infinitely Greater Than Nations (2011-07-29)
(v. 16) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 17) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 17) Fearing God - Infinitely Greater Than Nations (2011-07-29)
(v. 18) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 19) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 20) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 21) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 22) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 23) Fearing God - Control of Rulers (2011-07-30)
(v. 23) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 24) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)
(v. 25) God Is (part VII) (2011-03-26)

This passage is referenced in the following study note(s):
(v. 14) Bible Talk: God can do more than we can ask (2013-03-08)

Definition(s):
Lebanon (Leb-an-on): white, incense
So (Soh):