Moses is pretty clear with his warning about idols. He knows the tendency of the people. It’s easier to have something visible to worship than to worship an unseen God. Easier but not smarter. A visible object is not God, can never be God. A tangible item cannot watch over you, provide for you, hear your prayers, or love you unconditionally.
When I think about God being a jealous God, the song, “Oh How He Loves Us” pops into my head. God doesn’t want us to focus on anyone or anything but him. He loves us that much. He wants only the best for us. Listen HERE.
When I read this passage, I feel pretty good because I haven’t made an idol out of any shape or form. I don’t worship the sun, stars or moon. Although I have known people who do, and that’s just plain wrong. As Moses said, “The Lord your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth.” The Lord gave them to us to enjoy, not to worship. We should only worship the creator.
People also tend to give credit to the “universe.” Have you heard that, too? Seriously? Who made the universe? I put that right up there with the sun and the stars. God is a jealous God, and we need to remember that. I, for one, don’t want to upset God by giving credit to the universe or the moon for something that God clearly is responsible for.
We can also think of idols as those things we put in place of God with our worship. What is that for you? Many people might answer money, or power, or our jobs. What do you spend your time doing? Praying or watching Netflix? Worshipping or watching a sporting event? Reading the Bible or working? I’m not saying that Netflix, sports, working, or money are bad things. God has given us these things, too. But are they worthy of our worship? Are they more important to us than God?
Don’t we have to work to make money to survive? How can we be worshipping God all day long? Think of it this way. It’s our attitude as much as anything. What are our motives for working? Are we honoring God in our work? Pleasing God and working for him can make any job (even cleaning a toilet) more rewarding. When we focus on God as our friend, our guide, our protector, our employer, and landlord, it tilts our world just a little bit, doesn’t it?
You might say that anything that keeps us from building a stronger relationship with God can be called an idol. What do we idolize? Do we let worry hold us captive? Are we fixated on our own beauty? Why do you think our minds are so full of everything under the sun, except God?
Remember the words of the song, “He is jealous for me. Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree. Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy. And all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory. And I realize just how beautiful You are. And how great Your affections are for me.” Oh, how he loves us. He wants all of us, our hearts, our minds, our souls.
Let’s pray… Lord, forgive me for the idols I have which keep me from being totally devoted to you. Help me to do away with them and replace them with gratitude. Thank you for your mercy. You are so beautiful and patient with me. Guide my steps and my heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
