pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: false gods


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Choose Today

Reading: Joshua 24:1-3 and 14-15

Joshua 24:14 – “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped.”

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As we turn to the last chapter of the book of Joshua, God has established Israel in the Promised Land. Joshua has led the conquest of the land as God has driven out “great and powerful nations.” Each tribe of Israel has been allotted land. And there are survivors in the land and there are neighboring nations all around them. Danger lies here. Joshua tells the people to not even mention the names of these people’s idols and false gods. He points the Israelites towards God’s Law and invites them to remember how God has kept all of the promises that God has made.

Turning to chapter 24, Joshua seeks to renew the people’s covenant with God. Now that Israel is secure and established in the land promised to Abraham, Joshua challenges the people to make a conscious decision to always serve the Lord. In verse 14 Joshua says, “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped.” Joshua calls for a healthy respect of the Lord and for an all-out dedication. The call is to love God with heart, soul, and mind. Those idols – the ones that have dogged them even as God defeated enemy after enemy in the wilderness and in the Promised Land – they are still around. Be wary. Put them away forever.

Joshua makes his choice known in the last part of verse 15, where we read, “But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” While encouraging, the people – each person – must make a choice. Joshua is committed. But how will each Israelite decide? As a whole, will they choose the Lord their God? Will they fear and serve the Lord? Will they forever put away the idols and false gods of this world?

Prayer: Lord God, oh how familiar we are with this choice. Daily the idols and false gods of this world come and go from our consciousness. Daily we feel their pull. We have chosen you, O God. We want to walk as a child of God, as a brother or sister in Christ. Encourage us. Strengthen our commitment. Walk with us in Spirit, leading and guiding us to walk the walk that we have chosen. Keep us faithful and true. Amen.


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False Gods and Idols

Reading: Exodus 32:1-10

Exodus 32:7 – “Hurry up and go down! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, are ruining everything!”

Photo credit: Ricardo Gomez Angel

In our Old Testament reading today and tomorrow, Moses is up on the mountain receiving instructions from God. Starting in chapter 25, God gives Moses detailed instructions for the tabernacle and for observing the Sabbath. Moses has been with God for forty days. So at the start of chapter 32 the people come to Aaron, unsure about ever seeing Moses again, and ask Aaron to make them a “god.” The one left in charge gives in to the crowd and forms a golden calf. Two of the popular deities in Egypt were represented by a bull. Aaron does try to turn their focus to God by holding a festival to the Lord. But in the end, the people worship the golden idol. With their only connection to the one true God gone forever, the people turn to a false idol – one they can see and touch and can shape or manipulate with their own hands.

God sees what is happening and says to Moses, “Hurry up and go down! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, are ruining everything!” God’s plan is harsh. We find a hint as God calls them “your people.” With these words, God is rhetorically rejecting Israel. God’s plan is to allow the fury to burn and to devour these stubborn and faithless people. Then God will start all over with Moses!

I wonder if God ever feels this way in our day. I wonder if God ever looks down at our way of living and feels anger rising up inside. Do the false gods and idols that we chase after when we’ve lost our connection to God make God feel like “devouring” us? In these moments I remember that, like Israel in the wilderness, we are still a work in progress. We are yet becoming who God created us to be. In tomorrow’s reading, Moses will intercede for the people. For you, for me, for our world today – we too have an intercessor. The risen Christ stands between us and God, interceding on our behalf. Jesus walked among us. He understands our struggles and temptations. Thank you, Jesus.

Prayer: Lord God, when we drift and our connection with you feels lost, the things of this world seem brighter, shinier, more attractive. In these early moments, when we’re looking towards other “gods,” draw us back to you. Whisper in our hearts, reminding us of your love. May this be what captures our attention, our focus, our worship. Amen.