Prayer Journal
Friday, December 1, 2000
Yesterday there was television news coverage of a woman being interviewed concerning an act of vandalism in California. The cameras showed her crouched down at the base of a large tree trunk crying pitifully.
We were told that someone had irresponsibly partially cut through the base of a large tree using a chainsaw and left it for dead. Strangely, this woman spent two years up in this particular tree protesting against the right of the land owners to cut down the tree. Her protest finally convinced a judge to issue a restraining order against the property owner which resulted in her coming down out of the tree.
After such a long time perched in its branches, this protester referred to her temporary home by the name of "Luna". One glance at Luna and it gives the impression of a Roman Catholic shrine more than a piece of nature. This California redwood measures fifteen feet in circumference at the base where its trunk is naturally hollowed out. Nature worshippers from around the world have made pilgrimage to Luna to place framed pictures, candles and rosary beads within the frame of her trunk.
In Isaiah 44, the prophet uses the illustration of a tree to point to the futility of worshipping anything but Jehovah God. In doing so, Isaiah is not kind in his assessment of nature worshippers;
"All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. (9) It is fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. (15) Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood? "(19)
Whereas the prophet asks the rhetorical question, "Shall I bow down to a block of wood?", many people in this generation would respond proudly, "Why, Yes. That's my right to do so!" Isaiah then points to the only reasonable conclusion: "He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, 'Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?'" Isa 44:20
Truly,
some people are too smart for their own good!
Just Thinkin'.. WebServant
(1) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible,
New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society
(2) The images used herein
were obtained from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe
product, (c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland
Way, Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.
