When the Israelites begin their Exodus from Egypt, God has one more mighty work planned---the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of Pharaoh's army. This miracle would send a powerful message to the Egyptians, the Israelites, and other nations about the strength of the God of Israel.
Hundreds of years later, Isaiah had a message about another Exodus for Jewish exiles in Babylon. God would rescue his people again, this time using a pagan king to send them back to the land of Israel. He announced the name of that king in advance in Isaiah 44-45: Cyrus.
As in the time of the first Exodus, God wanted all nations to know that he was the one true God, the only one who could predict the future accurately and the only source of salvation.
In Isaiah 46, God states that everyone has a choice to make, and there are two options. One possibility is to follow other gods who have no power to save. Those who choose that option will have to carry their idols around in order to save them (verses 1-2).
On the other hand, the God of Israel does not need to be carried around. Instead, he carries his people, faithfully watching over them all their lives and delivering them from harm (verses 3-4).
So there are two options, to carry or be carried. We can still think of our choices today that way. We do not carry images of wood or stone, but we have our own idols---our stuff, our sources of entertainment, the reputations we want to maintain. We chooses whether to carry these idols around or to give them up, place our trust in God, and let him carry us. The choice is ours.
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