100%

I will rescue you for my sake—yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols! [Isaiah 48.11]

What is God saying here?

Two things: 1: God will be glorified. He has a reputation and He will protect it! And, 2: God will not share His glory with idols.

What is God's reputation? Well, first, He created everything. He sustains everything. He made all that we know for Himself - it is all for His pleasure and purpose. As Creator of Everything, God is all-powerful and all-knowing. He will protect His position and He will protect His creation. He is particularly fond of man and has, and will, overcome even His own natural laws to protect and nurture man. However, God gave man a choice in the matter - the choice to love and obey God or to betray and disobey God.

This is where the second part comes in. God is not willing to share our allegiance with anyone or anything. And, that is how God's reputation and our obedience are related. God said from the beginning that He would bless obedience and curse disobedience. He staked His reputation on it. When we experience curses, it is because, in some way, we have not fully pleased God with our obedience - and that is why faith is said to be an 'obedience' - the obedience of faith! Without faith, it is impossible to please God. If we trust in anything or anyone other than God (including ourselves), we have disobeyed in faith - we have given glory to something or someone other than God. God is simply not willing to share that glory. Idols are a slap in God's face - be it an idol of man's craftsmanship, or an idol of man's knowledge and invention.

In light of the last statement of the paragraph above, man might do well to consider what all falls beneath the categories of his craftsmanship or knowledge and invention.

The Bible is clear that God gave man abilities. That would necessarily include the ability to craft an idol. Do that mean that God endorses or even tolerates such activity? Absolutely not! God also gave man the ability to murder another man, but God forbids it! It is not difficult to see where this is going...

There are many things people trust in today, claiming God gave the ability, so it must be right... right? Let's see, how does medicine fit that mold? In fact, modern science and medicine are abilities God gave man because God gave man a brain. But for man to even share, in any proportion, his trust in those abilities with his trust in God is outside what the LORD Himself spoke through the prophet Isaiah in 48.11 above!

I know, I know... I am an idiot to draw these conclusions... But, if I am an idiot, then Abraham was an idiot too when he said...

The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.” Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ [Genesis 14.21-23]

Was Abraham wrong in this? Not according to Isaiah 48.11! Abraham was not willing that the 'glory' of provision for himself could be attributed to ANYONE but God and God alone! By the way, Abraham went down in history as a man of extreme faith... Just sayin'.

God wants 100%. Period.

Father, I want to be found in 100% faith in You. I don't want anyone or anything to receive any of the glory that is Yours and Yours alone.