Isaiah describes a pattern of addiction, as idols fuel the fire of vain imagination. The idol maker experiences what addicts call "the God hole." He becomes hungry, thirsty, and faint. Having given all to his drug of choice, he is left with the empty feeling in the middle of his soul--that empty hole we try to fill with alcohol, drugs, sex, food . . . the list goes on and on.
Driven by vain imagination, "it shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite" (Isaiah 29:8).
Driven by vain imagination, the addict thinks he is rescued once again from whatever ails him, and the false god is strengthened in the eyes of the addicted one.
Isaiah describes it wonderfully:
"He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
"Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
"He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
"And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god" (Isaiah 44:14-17).
The addict plants the seed and the rain nourishes it. It grows into a tree. He builds a fire to warm himself and bakes bread to satisfy his hunger. He eats up the flesh and becomes consumed by it. He says, "Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire."
How many nights I wasted away consumed in the warm glow of the alcoholic buzz, thinking, "Aha, I am warm and satisfied." I have become numb again and all seems to be well in my euphoric escape.
With the residue we make false gods, even imaginary. I fall down and worship in my own way.
Then comes the tricky part. I plead for deliverance. "Deliver me; for thou art my god." But the enemy who led me there has now abandoned me "even as a sheep having no shepherd" (Alma 25:12).
Denial sets in.
"They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand" (Isaiah 44:18).
I am deceived.
"And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?" (Isaiah 44:19).
Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? Shall I fall down again to the chemical formula of alcohol?
The fire has consumed my life.
"He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?" (Isaiah 44:20).
Out of the ashes I reach out to God.
"And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy" (1 Nephi 8:12).
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