Pursuing False Gods
Israel's stubborn persistence in running after other gods proved to be their undoing - bringing Yahweh's wrath on many occasions. Many preachers have used this sad story of idolatry as a warning to Christians. "You too can have idols in your life. They can be a fancy sports car, television, even your wife and kids! Don't love anything in your life more than God!"
It's a poignant point, but does it really capture the full scope of what was going on with the ancient Israelites? I submit to you a revised view of modern idol worship. Idol worship in ancient times wasn't a love issue. I don't think you'd hear the pagan nations say "Ooh my little stone man, I love you. I want to spend all my time looking at your hollow eyes..."
No, idol worship was a trust issue. Listen to King David describe the issue of idol worship:
"Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of man’s hands.
Those who make them will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them." (Psalm 115:4,8)
Why did the people turn to idols? Because they faced difficulties! They might have crops that weren't growing. They might get sick. They might want to get pregnant with a boy instead of a girl. As with the pagan nations, Israel didn't turn to idols because they were bored and needed something to do - they turned to idols because they had issues they wanted resolved.
The pagan nations faced similar difficulties in life. They developed a host of gods to "solve" those issues. Are you faced with dangerous invaders? You'd better sacrifice a goat to the god of protection. Are you faced with a drought? You'd better appease the god of rain. Do you have an ox with a broken leg? You'd better offer up a calf to the ox healing God.
This understanding should guide the mind of the conscious Christian who desires to please God. Oftentimes we can think that our greatest struggle in pleasing God is to avoid getting angry, to do our best to witness to our neighbor, to avoid besetting sins... God gets right to the point when he calls out Israel:
"My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water. " (Jeremiah 2:13)
Two sins??? Only two??? You mean their rebellion wasn't from lying, cheating, stealing, or committing adultery? Those things certainly aren't nice, but even if you fell into those sins, you could still find restoration by obeying God's statutes and offering the proper sacrifices. However, if you forsake God and turn to other god's, you cut yourself off from the only true flow of forgiveness and restoration.
What was the problem? Israel needed "water." That water could represent a lot of things - from the basic necessities of life to spiritual and emotional wellness. We need water everyday. Everyday we need more. There was only one true source to get these needs met, yet Israel turned to other sources of water. God was the true source of all their needs, yet they turned to idols, to other means of getting their needs met - which were not really means at all.
Jeremiah wrote:
"Has a nation changed its gods,
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit." (Jeremiah 2:11)
God was Israel's glory. God told Moses His glory was in His lovingkindness and compassion. Israel was to be a sign to the surrounding nations. Look at what God can do to a nation of slaves through his lovingkindness! Part the red sea - swoosh! Manna from heaven - shazaam! Crumble fortified cities - kaboom!
Despite God's outpouring of provision, the people turned away.
"What wrong did your fathers find in me
that they went far from me,
and went after worthlessness, and became worthless." (Jeremiah 2:5)
What warning is there in this for us? I don't think the issue of modern day idolatry comes down to watching sports, playing golf, or buying a Porsche. These can become a type of idolatry - but the heart of idolatry is trust.
A Christian who reads his Bible all day can be in idolatry if he thinks his regimen of verses puts him in good standing with God. A Christian can be in idolatry if he thinks his spotless work ethic and cordial demeanor are the key to him receiving a raise to provide for his family. A Christian can be in idolatry if he puts more trust in the hands of a physician than in the hands of the Healer.
One of the biggest traps for a Christian is to get caught up in the system of this world. The world around us has needs and they have subscribed to a contrived means of meeting those needs. Do you have financial problems? Health problems? Emotional problems? The world has an answer to these problems. Most do not involve trusting in God.
But what does God say? These means of obtaining water are broken cisterns. They might appear to do the trick for a time, but they are leaky. You might think you have a tank full of water, but the next thing you know, your tank is empty. You might think your multiple degrees and great job are a bulwark against bankruptcy - but you could lose your job in an instant. You might think a great doctor is your best defense at getting rid of the cancer - but the doctor might miss something in the biopsy or the treatment might not be adequate. The fact is that whatever you are leaning on has the potential to fail you - except for God.
God is the only source of water that comes with a 100% life back guarantee: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
Israel's stubborn persistence in running after other gods proved to be their undoing - bringing Yahweh's wrath on many occasions. Many preachers have used this sad story of idolatry as a warning to Christians. "You too can have idols in your life. They can be a fancy sports car, television, even your wife and kids! Don't love anything in your life more than God!"
It's a poignant point, but does it really capture the full scope of what was going on with the ancient Israelites? I submit to you a revised view of modern idol worship. Idol worship in ancient times wasn't a love issue. I don't think you'd hear the pagan nations say "Ooh my little stone man, I love you. I want to spend all my time looking at your hollow eyes..."
No, idol worship was a trust issue. Listen to King David describe the issue of idol worship:
"Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of man’s hands.
Those who make them will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them." (Psalm 115:4,8)
Why did the people turn to idols? Because they faced difficulties! They might have crops that weren't growing. They might get sick. They might want to get pregnant with a boy instead of a girl. As with the pagan nations, Israel didn't turn to idols because they were bored and needed something to do - they turned to idols because they had issues they wanted resolved.
The pagan nations faced similar difficulties in life. They developed a host of gods to "solve" those issues. Are you faced with dangerous invaders? You'd better sacrifice a goat to the god of protection. Are you faced with a drought? You'd better appease the god of rain. Do you have an ox with a broken leg? You'd better offer up a calf to the ox healing God.
This understanding should guide the mind of the conscious Christian who desires to please God. Oftentimes we can think that our greatest struggle in pleasing God is to avoid getting angry, to do our best to witness to our neighbor, to avoid besetting sins... God gets right to the point when he calls out Israel:
"My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water. " (Jeremiah 2:13)
Two sins??? Only two??? You mean their rebellion wasn't from lying, cheating, stealing, or committing adultery? Those things certainly aren't nice, but even if you fell into those sins, you could still find restoration by obeying God's statutes and offering the proper sacrifices. However, if you forsake God and turn to other god's, you cut yourself off from the only true flow of forgiveness and restoration.
What was the problem? Israel needed "water." That water could represent a lot of things - from the basic necessities of life to spiritual and emotional wellness. We need water everyday. Everyday we need more. There was only one true source to get these needs met, yet Israel turned to other sources of water. God was the true source of all their needs, yet they turned to idols, to other means of getting their needs met - which were not really means at all.
Jeremiah wrote:
"Has a nation changed its gods,
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit." (Jeremiah 2:11)
God was Israel's glory. God told Moses His glory was in His lovingkindness and compassion. Israel was to be a sign to the surrounding nations. Look at what God can do to a nation of slaves through his lovingkindness! Part the red sea - swoosh! Manna from heaven - shazaam! Crumble fortified cities - kaboom!
Despite God's outpouring of provision, the people turned away.
"What wrong did your fathers find in me
that they went far from me,
and went after worthlessness, and became worthless." (Jeremiah 2:5)
What warning is there in this for us? I don't think the issue of modern day idolatry comes down to watching sports, playing golf, or buying a Porsche. These can become a type of idolatry - but the heart of idolatry is trust.
A Christian who reads his Bible all day can be in idolatry if he thinks his regimen of verses puts him in good standing with God. A Christian can be in idolatry if he thinks his spotless work ethic and cordial demeanor are the key to him receiving a raise to provide for his family. A Christian can be in idolatry if he puts more trust in the hands of a physician than in the hands of the Healer.
One of the biggest traps for a Christian is to get caught up in the system of this world. The world around us has needs and they have subscribed to a contrived means of meeting those needs. Do you have financial problems? Health problems? Emotional problems? The world has an answer to these problems. Most do not involve trusting in God.
But what does God say? These means of obtaining water are broken cisterns. They might appear to do the trick for a time, but they are leaky. You might think you have a tank full of water, but the next thing you know, your tank is empty. You might think your multiple degrees and great job are a bulwark against bankruptcy - but you could lose your job in an instant. You might think a great doctor is your best defense at getting rid of the cancer - but the doctor might miss something in the biopsy or the treatment might not be adequate. The fact is that whatever you are leaning on has the potential to fail you - except for God.
God is the only source of water that comes with a 100% life back guarantee: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
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