It Starts Small

Isaiah begins this second chapter of his book by briefly reintroducing himself as the son of Amoz. He announces his plan to reveal what he saw about Judah and Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1). The prophet describes God’s revelations about the future to him in visual terms. He has seen what the Lord has shown him.

He begins by describing what he has seen far in Israel’s future in the last days (Isaiah 2:2). These same words also appear in Micah 4:1–3.

In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s house
will be established
at the top of the mountains
and will be raised above the hills.
Peoples will stream to it,
² and many nations will come and say,
“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us about his ways
so we may walk in his paths.”
For instruction will go out of Zion
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
³ He will settle disputes among many peoples
and provide arbitration for strong nations
that are far away.
They will beat their swords into plows
and their spears into pruning knives.
Nation will not take up the sword against nation,
and they will never again train for war.

Micah 4:1-3

God intended for both prophets to emphasize the glory to come in Israel’s distant future. At that time, the mountain of the house of the Lord will become the “highest” of all mountains on earth. Isaiah means the Lord’s mountain in Jerusalem will become the most important place of worship in the world. It will be high above all other forms of religion (Isaiah 2:2).

The people of all the nations of the earth will finally understand that the God of Israel is right. He is the one true God. The Gentiles of the earth will flock to Jerusalem to learn from the Lord. His teaching will reach the world from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3). During this time, the Messiah’s future reign of Christ on earth will occur. The Lord will finally bring order to the world. Everything will be right on the earth. The Lord will settle disputes between all nations. There will be no need for countries to prepare for war (Isaiah 2:4).

Isaiah urges the Israelites of his day to act immediately. They should start walking in the light of the Lord now. Do it now, he tells them, even though he knows they will not listen (Isaiah 2:5). Because God’s people refuse to trust Him, He has abandoned and rejected them. This does not completely eliminate His care for Israel. However, God is withholding His protection and blessing. Isaiah describes the ways in which the Israelites have been seeking good from sources other than their God. They are full of the superstitions of the people of the east. They are fascinated with fortune-tellers and divination, just like the Philistines. They make bargains with foreign powers, seeking financial and political security (Isaiah 2:6).

Even worse, the Israelites think their idol worship is working.

⁴ Their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
⁵ They have mouths but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
⁶ They have ears but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
⁷ They have hands but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk.
They cannot make a sound with their throats.
⁸ Those who make them are just like them,
as are all who trust in them.

Psalm 115:4-8

¹⁸ What use is a carved idol
after its craftsman carves it?
It is only a cast image, a teacher of lies.
For the one who crafts its shape trusts in it
and makes worthless idols that cannot speak.
¹⁹ Woe to him who says to wood: Wake up!
or to mute stone: Come alive!
Can it teach?
Look! It may be plated with gold and silver,
yet there is no breath in it at all.

Habakkuk 2:18-19

The land is rich, full of gold, silver, treasures, chariots, and horses. It’s also filled with idols worshiped by the people who made them. In exchange for this worship, they believe the idols provide their great wealth and security (Isaiah 2:7).

Isaiah is full of indignation at these sins of his people. He turns to the Lord and tells God not to forgive them. He describes the coming time of God’s judgment. This period is known as the day of the Lord.

For a day is near;
a day belonging to the Lord is near.
It will be a day of clouds,
a time of doom for the nations.
Ezekiel 30:3

For the day of the Lord is near,
against all the nations.
As you have done, it will be done to you;
what you deserve will return on your own head.

Obadiah 1:15

The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
Acts 2:20

This is the predicted era when God will complete His plan to punish all sin and overcome evil forever. Then, finally, men will be brought low. Isaiah describes God’s people as hiding in dark caves to try to escape the glory of the Lord’s majesty. On that day, the Lord will be exalted and human beings will be brought low (Isaiah 2:9).

Isaiah lists large things men trust to save them. These include the trees of Lebanon and Bashan, great mountains and hills, city walls and towers, and great ships of trade and military might. Trusting in material goods or wealth is useless. A holy Creator God confronts this reliance.

Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses,
but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 20:7

Anyone trusting in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

Proverbs 11:28

¹⁶ Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? ¹⁸ I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. ¹⁹ Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’

²¹ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:16-21

All these things will be revealed as unreliable on the day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:13–17).

The countless idols will also be thrown aside. The makers will hide in the ground from the judgment of the Lord.

¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶ And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, ¹⁷ because the great day of their^[a] wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”

Revelation 6:15-17

Meanwhile, these idols will be left behind in caves (Isaiah 2:20–21).

Don’t trust men, Isaiah concludes. They’re one breath away from death. Trust the Lord, instead (Isaiah 2:22).

Isaiah paints a very real picture of life today. Nothing has changed in the world from his time. Many are chasing and worshiping the idols they have created.

Can we pause today and take a good look within our own hearts and allow the Lord to reveal the idol worship we have?

Perhaps it is a person, job, wealth, health, or something else. Are we giving God are devotion and worship?

© Kimberlee Smith 2025 http://www.itstartssmall.com All rights reserved.