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The Lord said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."
You cannot read very far in the Old Testament without encountering idols, for idolatry ranks as perhaps the most common topic in the Bible. A nagging question haunts these pages: Why did the Israelites keep deserting the God who had delivered them from Egypt for the sake of carved tree trunks and bronze statues? What was the big attraction?
Like peasants gawking at big-city life, the Israelites moved from 40 years of desert wanderings into a land of cities and more advanced technology. They had been landless nomads and shepherds. And so, many of the Israelites likewise drifted carelessly from god to god, adopting the religion of whatever group seemed to be having the most success with its agriculture. Similarly, when a mighty army threatened their borders, they smuggled in a few of that army’s favorite idols, hedging their bets in case their own religion did not bring them military success. Idols became a phantom source of power, an alternative place to invest faith and hope.
And yet, no attitude could be further from that demanded by the true God. He had chosen the Israelites as a kingdom of priests, a treasured possession set apart for himself. As Lord of the universe, he wanted not a casual faith, but total allegiance. He was not a good-luck charm.
Idolatry made such inroads into Israel and Judah that God had to tear apart both kingdoms in order to root it out. Second Kings clearly blames idolatry as the chief sin leading to both nations’ collapse. History records that the punishment ultimately worked. After the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions, never again did the Israelites dabble in idolatry.
Life Question:
Idolatry need not involve images of wood or stone; it’s possible to worship such things as money, another person, or fame. What are some “idols” you might be tempted to worship?
Keeping up with the Jones’ is a problem that I would imagine most folks in life struggle with. How much “stuff” is enough? How much fame does one need to be content in life? How many talents should one have? I’ve struggled with these issues my entire life. Jesus’ simple words of leave everything behind and follow me clearly shows us all the correct path, but my own stubbornness roadblocks his message.
1 comment:
I've personally experienced how easily things that I thought I possessed can be taken away. The things I've learned from this keep my expectations for possessions in check. There is a certain freedom that comes from a simple life. There are fewer things to capture your time and attention. I truly believe that God provides for our every need but is not as concerned with our every want.......Greg
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