Why Compete With God?

The LORD made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens. When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses. The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge! The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make, for their carefully shaped works are a fraud. These idols have no breath or power. Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed. But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator of everything that exists, including his people, his own special possession. The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is his name! [Jeremiah 51.15-19] 

My recognition that idolatry is a recurring Old Testament theme casting a telling light on modern times goes back many years. Regarding this same scripture passage, in 2017 I wrote, What Is An Idol? And then in 2023 I wrote, Premium On Ignorance?

I am satisfied that the Old Testament's repeated address of idolatry serves to alert modern believers exactly what we should look out for today: idolatry.

Now, while it might be argued that the whole human race is no longer as foolish and without knowledge as it was in Jeremiah's time, it must be understood that even with all humanity's advancements, when compared to God, those advancements still render man only foolish and without knowledge.

Mankind is foolish and has no knowledge. Mankind's craftsmen (wise, knowledgeable and skilled) are disgraced by the idols they make. Mankind's debt, insurance, medicine and technology (carefully shaped works) are a fraud.

But the God of Israel is no fraud - He is no idol. As Creator of everything, He has complete understanding of how everything works. Why would mankind even presume to compete with that?

The question then is not really how does one compete with God, but why would one compete with God?

Father, may our eyes be opened to the idols of our day that identify themselves as idols by competing with You. So be it.