Dealing with Idols
Exodus 20:3-6 - "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand[ generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments." (NIV)
1 Samuel 15:23 - "For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 10:13-14 - "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. (NIV)
Colossians 3:5 - "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (NIV)
Galatians 5:19-21 - "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (NIV)
When we hold onto our rights and do not let them go, they turn into idols in our hands. In other words, we worship what we cling to. God is clear. We are to have no idols before him (Exo. 20:3-6). But, do we really worship idols today? Yes, there are some who worship statues. But, is that you… an idol worshipper?
In Genesis 31, Jacob ran from his father-in-law, Laban. He took his two wives and all the possessions that he had accumulated while working for Laban. For fear that Laban would hold him back, Jacob fled to begin a new life. As they left in haste, his wife, Rachel, packed some of her father's household gods. She tucked them away into her saddlebag. Laban found out that his daughters and Jacob had left and chased them down. When he caught up with them, he accused them of stealing his gods. But, Rachel never said a word. She held onto them.
Our relationship with idols can be much like Rachel and her household gods. The things that are very familiar to us, that we hold close, can become our undoing. Why did Rachel keep these idols? Perhaps she was scared. Perhaps she was uncertain of her future. Perhaps she wanted blessing on her family to come. But, it's very interesting that she turned to the familiar gods of her household to bring comfort in this time of uncertainty.
Our attempts to control and comfort our lives (rights we hold onto) quickly become idols (objects of worship) when they are not quickly laid down at the feet of Jesus. What is the proper response when idols are exposed in our lives? Destroy the idols. That is how God always instructed the Israelites to deal with idols. Expose the idol, then destroy the idol.
For More Study
Thoughts and Questions for Application
Memorization
Exodus 20:3-4 - "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." (NIV)
1 Samuel 15:23 - "For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 10:13-14 - "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. (NIV)
Colossians 3:5 - "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (NIV)
Galatians 5:19-21 - "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (NIV)
When we hold onto our rights and do not let them go, they turn into idols in our hands. In other words, we worship what we cling to. God is clear. We are to have no idols before him (Exo. 20:3-6). But, do we really worship idols today? Yes, there are some who worship statues. But, is that you… an idol worshipper?
In Genesis 31, Jacob ran from his father-in-law, Laban. He took his two wives and all the possessions that he had accumulated while working for Laban. For fear that Laban would hold him back, Jacob fled to begin a new life. As they left in haste, his wife, Rachel, packed some of her father's household gods. She tucked them away into her saddlebag. Laban found out that his daughters and Jacob had left and chased them down. When he caught up with them, he accused them of stealing his gods. But, Rachel never said a word. She held onto them.
Our relationship with idols can be much like Rachel and her household gods. The things that are very familiar to us, that we hold close, can become our undoing. Why did Rachel keep these idols? Perhaps she was scared. Perhaps she was uncertain of her future. Perhaps she wanted blessing on her family to come. But, it's very interesting that she turned to the familiar gods of her household to bring comfort in this time of uncertainty.
Our attempts to control and comfort our lives (rights we hold onto) quickly become idols (objects of worship) when they are not quickly laid down at the feet of Jesus. What is the proper response when idols are exposed in our lives? Destroy the idols. That is how God always instructed the Israelites to deal with idols. Expose the idol, then destroy the idol.
For More Study
- Genesis 31:22-35
- Exodus 32-33
- 1 Samuel 15
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-22
Thoughts and Questions for Application
- Take time to ask God if there are any idols in your life? Do you see how these idols are connected to rights that you have held onto?
- If God has revealed any idols to you, it would be wise to spend time humbling yourself before him and repenting of idolatry.
- Are there specific idols that God is calling you to destroy?
Memorization
Exodus 20:3-4 - "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." (NIV)
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