Idols

To become a fan is generally fine.

“Everyone is a fan of something or someone, but we must exercise caution and be mindful of the dangers of idolatry. Because a simple admiration or desire can turn into idolatry. Idolatry is often a good thing that becomes a "god thing". That will eventually create a barrier between us and God.

That is why the Apostle Paul says, Therefore, my dear friends, FLEE FROM IDOLATRY. 1 Corinthians 10:14 NIV

A story in the OT can help one to better understand idolatry.

- The story begins when the Israelites, after a 3-month journey from Egypt, established their camp in the desert.

- At the Lord's command, Moses gathered them at the base of Mount Sinai, where God verbally delivered the Ten Commandments.

- Overwhelmed by the sight of a trembling, smoke-covered mountain with thunder, lightning, and trumpet sounds, the people chose not to communicate directly with God.

- And so, Moses, Aaron, and 70 elders climb the mountain to receive more teachings from God.

- Moses even went higher up the mountain alone, where he received the Ten Commandments written on stone tablets.

[The Making of the Golden Calf]

Moses spent 40 days with God receiving instructions, which made the Israelites impatient. They turned to Aaron and said, "Create a god to lead us, as we're not sure where Moses is." Aaron then asked them to bring their gold rings.

Exodus 32:3-4 - So all the people took off the gold rings that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he took the gold from their hands and fashioned it with an engraving tool and made it into a molten calf;

(The gold is melted and recast to a calf. The calf was chosen because it was a common object of worship in Egypt which they came from) and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”

Instead of walking by faith and not by sight, they wavered when Moses’ return was delayed. They committed idolatry which is a very serious sin against God.

[The 10 Commandments]

This is so unexpected because, before this calf creation, the Lord had just delivered to them the 10 Commandments. The Lord said, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt.

“You shall have no other gods before me” and “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything, and you shall not bow down to or worship them;

These are the first 2 commandments concerning idolatry.

And sadly, the Israelites easily overlooked this and created their own god.

Images, statues, or any representation of something are all generally fine.

• A person is guilty of idolatry if he perceives the image and what it represents as god, or equal to, or above god.

• A person is guilty of idolatry if he believes that other than Jesus, someone else, or its representation…

- Is worthy of worshipping and bowing down to

- have the authority to forgive sin.

- is one of the ways to God and grants salvation.

Idolatry occurs when there is an attempt to either substitute God with false gods or prioritize a person, object, or desire over God.

[ISRAELITES DISPARATE MOTIVATIONS]

The total number of adult Israelite men in the narrative is recorded as 603,550. Include the women and children, there were about 2 million Israelites. Out of those 2 million…

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(1) There are those who have zero to less understanding of God.

That is why, their belief is that Moses was the one who saved them.

Exodus 32:1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

[MOSES AS THEIR IDOL]

Moses, their pastor and leader, is the hero, their LODI. When Moses didn’t return, they became “kanchong”, anxious, and nervous.

If you know God, and you know his promises, you will wait.

[OTHERS AS YOUR IDOL]

How about you, is your leader your hero? Your spouse, parents, a celebrity?

Husbands and wives, when you love your spouse more than God, you are guilty of idolatry.

It is not that one can't find inspiration in others. The truth is that when you prioritize anyone above God or even make someone equal to God, you have fallen into the trap of idolatry.

[Short Story - People would let you down]

Many years ago, while driving with colleagues, I mistakenly stepped on the gas instead of the brake pedal, leading to a near-accident as we swerved to avoid the car in front. Miraculously, we emerged unharmed, and my colleagues were like – “Wow! Great driving skills!” I kept driving while smiling and thinking to myself “I almost killed everyone! I have let you down, guys!”