Idolatry was a heinous sin that was constantly plaguing God’s people in Old Testament times. Moses consistently warned them in Deuteronomy that worshipping other gods would lead to their final destruction (Deuteronomy 4:23).
It’s easy for us to see the depravity that accompanied those pagan worship practices, but Satan often easily distracted the Hebrews away from God through their desire to be like the nations around them (1 Samuel 8:20).
Isn’t this desire to be like our neighbors the reason we find ourselves drifting from God today? The current pandemic has identified some of our modern idols. Who would have thought that being deprived of so many luxuries would cause such discomfort, indignation, and even anger?
These negative emotions and their consequences are mostly triggered by fear and a lack of faith. Jesus described this fear as a sign of the end. He said “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth.” Luke 21:26 NKJV
It’s time for Christians to take the present truth in Deuteronomy seriously and recognize that true worship happens in the hearts of God’s believers, just as Moses told them many times (Deuteronomy 4:29).
Like the wise men of old, we must seek and obey Him with all our heart and soul.
All of the Old Testament characters studied this week were men of prayer, but also men of action. As were their counterparts in the New Testament we’ll study next week.
The reforms they sparked allowed them to flourish as a people and accomplish the particular tasks God had for them. Which is exactly what is needed as we think about the work God has for us in these last days.
