The Lumberjack and the Ax--This is a Heart Issue

One of the greatest texts in the Bible emphasizing God's control over all nations and all people is in Isaiah 10:5-15:

     "Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger--
           the club in their hands is my fury!
      Against a godless nation [Judah] I send him,
           and against the people of my wrath I command him,
      to take spoil and seize plunder,
           and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
      But this is not what he intends,
           nor does he have this in mind;
      but it is in his heart to DESTROY,
           and to CUT OFF nations not a few.
      For HE says: 'Are not my commanders all kings?
           Is not Calno like Carchemish?
           Is not Hamath like Arpad?
           Is not Samaria like Damascus?
     As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols
          whose images are greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
     shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols
          what I have done to Samaria and her images?
     When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem,
          he will punish the ARROGANT BOASTING of the king of Assyria and
                      his HAUGHTY PRIDE.
      For he says: 'By the strength of MY hand I have done it,
                           and by MY wisdom, for I have understanding;
                           I have removed the boundaries of peoples,
                           and have plundered their treasures,
                           like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones.
                           My hand has found, like a nest, the wealth of the peoples;
                           and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken,
                           so I have gathered all the earth;
                           and there was none that moved a wing, or opened it mouth, or chirped.'
       Shall the AX vaunt itself over THE ONE WHO WIELDS it,
             or the SAW magnify itself against THE ONE WHO HANDLES it?
             As if a ROD should raise up THE ONE WHO LIFTS it UP,
             or as if a STAFF should LIFT THE ONE WHO IS NOT WOOD!"

The figures here are very graphic and very clear. Isaiah uses three figures to emphasize that Yahweh is in control of all nations--in this case, specifically, Assyria. At this time, the king of Assyria was Sennacherib. See Isaiah 36-37. Sennacherib and Assyria assumed they were in control of all nations. Isaiah emphasizes that just the opposite is true. Yahweh is clearly in control. Here are the three figures--all found in Isaiah 10:15 [see also 10:5].

1. Yahweh is a LUMBERJACK--he is the one who wields the AX. The AX is Assyria. The tree that will be cut down is Judah. Yahweh will not utterly destroy Judah, as Sennacherib and Assyria had planned. Rather, Yahweh will punish Judah, then Yahweh will overthrow Assyria. It would be laughable to think of an AX picking up a LUMBERJACK and throw him around. It is just as laughable to think that a powerful nation would be in control of Yahweh, the Creator of the Universe and all nations.

2. Yahweh is a CARPENTER--he is the one who handles the SAW. The SAW is Assyria. The board that will be cut in two is Judah. Yahweh will not utterly destroy Judah, as Sennacherib and Assyria had planned. Rather, Yahweh will punish Judah, then Yahweh will overthrow Assyria. It would be laughable to think of a SAW picking up a CARPENTER and flip him around. It is just as laughable to think that a powerful nation would be in control of Yahweh, the Creator of the Universe and all nations.

3. Yahweh is the PARENT--he is the one who uses the ROD to spank the rebellious child. The rebellious child is Judah. Yahweh will not utterly destroy Judah, as Sennacherib and Assyria had planned. Rather, Yahweh will spank Judah, then Yahweh will overthrow Assyria. It would be laughable to think of a CHILD picking up her/his PARENT and spank the parent. It is just as laughable to think that a powerful nation would be in control of Yahweh, the Creator of the Universe and all nations.

What great pictures to portray God's work in the world! All of us become fearful of powerful nations. History has clearly shown that God has and will overthrow all human nations, no matter how powerful and great they SEEM to be. God ALONE is in control of his whole universe, including all nations.

Share YOUR shortcomings and backgrounds and fears and dreams and reversals with others. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis