“Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power.  Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future.”

Isaiah 44:7

In Isaiah 44, God speaks through the prophet to highlight his divine uniqueness.  Though there are many other “gods,” they are mere idols, formed by human hands from material elements. For example, the woodcarver who shapes an idol then takes the leftover wood and burns it to warm himself (44:14-15). Not a very impressive god!

The Lord, on the contrary, is unique. He alone is “the First and the Last,” the one who is before all things and who will be there at the end of time. Only the Lord is both king and redeemer, the true sovereign who reaches out in mercy to set his people free from the bondage of their sin (44:6). He alone is able to predict what will happen in the future (44:8). He is unique in choosing a people to fulfill his special purposes. No other “god” can do what the Lord alone has done.

In today’s multicultural world, proclaiming the uniqueness of the Lord can be unpopular. It fails the political correctness test. Sometimes we who believe in the Lord can be tempted to downplay his uniqueness, to allow other “gods” their place. But the core of biblical revelation, both in Scripture and in Jesus Christ, calls us to affirm that the Lord alone is God. Who is like God? Nobody. Nothing. The Lord alone is God.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you understand the uniqueness of God? Do you ever struggle to believe that the Lord alone is God? How can we communicate the uniqueness of God in a way that is humble yet truthful?

PRAYER: Who is like you, Lord? There is no one like you . . . no human being, no “god,” no other power in heaven or earth. To be sure, you created us in your image, so in a sense we are like you. But you exceed us in countless ways: in wisdom, in power, in majesty, in beauty, in grace, in knowledge, in love. Truly, you alone are God.

Lord, you know how difficult it can be to state this truth in today’s world. People want to be so accommodating, so fuzzy. They don’t want anyone to profess that there is one God. So help us to be clear about who you are. Give us courage to speak of you. But also give us humility. May we not offend with our manner, even if we must offend with our message. Help us to live in this world in such a way that people are drawn to you, the only God. Amen.