JEHOVAH'S CONTROVERSY WITH THE NATIONS AND THEIR IDOL-GODS. The argument is now taken up from Isaiah 41:1-4. Jehovah and his worshippers are on the one side; the idol-gods and their votaries on the other. The direct challenge, however, is given by Jehovah himself to the idols:
1. What predictions of their own can they bring forward as proofs of supernatural knowledge?
2. What indications can they give of power either to do good or to do evil (Isaiah 41:22, Isaiah 41:23)? If they can do neither, they are vanity (Isaiah 41:24). Jehovah has both reared up Cyrus he and he only—and has announced the good tidings to his people (Isaiah 41:25-27). No such announcement has been made by the idol-gods; they are therefore mere "wind and confusion" (Isaiah 41:28, Isaiah 41:29).