The Bible is clear. There is only one true God. All other gods, so- called, are false. God is incomparable. There is none like him. He is the only God - the true God. In the beginning human beings understood this. But over the ages people moved away from monotheism to the worship of a multiplicity of gods and even into idolatry and atheism. The movement was from the worship of one God to the worship of many gods. It did not begin with worship of many gods and then through human advancement and intelligence progress to worship of one God. Rather it was the other way round. The trend was retrogressive. The natural tendency of people is to be in rebellion against the one true God. God in his mercy chose to impress upon rebellious humanity that he was the one true God. This he did by choosing a people on the face of the earth, the Hebrews, and revealing himself to them. To them was entrusted the truth of one true God. Other nations gravitated to polytheism and idolatry but Israel was to worship but one God.

When Israel herself followed the nations and moved away from the worship of one true God how grieved God was. Israel did not totally deny the Lord God but rather mixed true religion with the worship of idols. It was in this setting that God sent the prophet Isaiah to minister. In Isaiah 40:12-26 the Lord is reasoning with Israel. He is impressing upon her the fact that he is the one true God. He is incomparable. That this is the case is seen in such a statement as “To whom then will you liken God?” (40:18). God is incomparable.

The incomparability of God is seen in the fact that he is the creator (40:12,22,26). In a series of rhetorical questions the Lord challenges Israel to consider God the creator. “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?” Who can be compared to God the creator? In Job 38:4 the Lord asked “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” To wayward Israel God offers a similar challenge - where were you O Israel when I created all things? Israel cannot answer. She is culpable in her sin of idolatry. God will simply not be compared with idols or other gods. He is the creator, the only true God.

He is transcendent and separate from his creation. He does not mix his identity with any human being, animal or inanimate thing. There is no confusion of his being. God does not become the sun or the moon or the stars. He does not become a tree. He does not become an animal. He cannot be shaped into a dead idol. He is above and separate from his creation. He is incomparable.

The incomparability of God is seen in his independence from humans (40:13). With further questions the Lord lays down the challenge to Israel. Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as his counsellor has taught him? (40:13). God is independent from humans. He does not need us but we need him. With whom did he take counsel or who instructed him and taught him? Who teaches him knowledge? No one. Absolutely no one. God is independent from human beings. No one counsels him. No one directs him or shows him the way of understanding.

The incomparability of God is seen in his rule over the nations (40:14-17; 22-24). Israel and Judah were under pressure from surrounding nations. God reassures them that the nations are as drop in a bucket and are counted as the small dust on the scales. The proud, militant nations were nothing. God rules over them and at his command they rise and fall. All nations before him are as nothing and they are counted by him less than nothing and worthless. The inhabitants of the earth are like grasshoppers. He is above them all. He blows on them and they become like stubble.

The incomparability of our God is seen in his superiority over idols (40:18-20). The Hebrews had fallen into idolatrous practices. They of all people knew better than to make and worship idols. But fallen human nature is prone to evil. Israel and Judah developed an eclectic religion. In this setting the Lord reasons with them. “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to him?” The idols are nothing. They are shaped by human hands. And when completed they need chains to hold them up. How can a dead, propped up idol be likened to God? There is no comparison. God is superior to all idols.

The Hebrews must re-learn the incomparability of God. And learn they did through the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 40 is a mighty chapter challenging the Hebrews to renew their faith in one true God. The incomparability of God is relevant to Christians also. In the New Testament we read of God’s incomparability in 1 Corinthians 8:4; Ephesians 4:5,6; 1 Timothy 2:5. Jesus is incomparable. There is no other Saviour. There is no other mediator between God and men.

The overall lesson we learn from Isaiah 40:12-26 is that God is incomparable and his incomparability is demonstrated in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Settle it in your hearts today that there is one true God and he is the God who has spoken through his Son Jesus. Receive Jesus today as your Lord and Saviour.

- Summary of Sermon by Pastor David Yan