Exodus 20:4-6. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 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 parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Why did God command Moses and the Israelites not to make or worship idols? And why, right before they entered Canaan, did He command them to utterly destroy the inhabitants of the land along with their idols and sorcerers (Numbers 33:50–56)?
Idolatry brings disaster and calamity. Idols are like needles in the eye and thorns in the side. Without understanding the consequences of idolatry and the importance of the covenant, the Israelites would live as strangers in a land not their own. They would be enslaved and mistreated for more than 400 years.
The purpose of the Exodus was to bring God’s people out of the land of idols—Egypt. The Exodus was about the people of the covenant tearing down idols that had brought disaster and restoring the blessing of worshiping the one true, living God.
The reason for God’s calling of Abraham was the same: “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.'” (Genesis 12:1). God commanded Abraham to leave Ur of the Chaldeans, a land full of idols. God desired to bless Abraham by setting him free from idolatry.
In the same way, God has brought us out from the city of idols—the world: “You followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” (Ephesians 2:2).
God called us to save us from the disasters of idolatry and to empower us to break down the altars of idols everywhere. But are we completely free from the idolatry of the past? Are we tearing down the idols we ourselves and the world have erected?
An idol is anything we place between God and ourselves. Some idols are visible—statues or images—but others are invisible, like our thoughts, ideologies, stubbornness, or anything we place above God’s Word. Invisible idols are often more powerful and harder to break. These hidden idols are so subtle that we may not even realize we worship them. All of these idols block the channel of answered prayer and the flow of God’s grace.
The devil’s temptation is so cunning that it is easy to fall into idolatry. He dared to tempt Jesus: “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.'” (Matthew 4:8–9).
God alone deserves our worship: “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” (Isaiah 42:8). Worshiping the devil or any created thing instead of the Creator invites destruction. We must worship and serve our God alone.
Idolatry also brings generational curses: “Punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 20:5). The consequences of idolatry for future generations are serious. Parents who live under the power of the devil will pass on the same kinds of troubles—if not worse—to their descendants. Their “spiritual DNA,” along with their physical DNA, will be passed on. No matter how much effort they make for their children, every spiritual, mental, and physical problem of the parents will eventually surface in their children’s lives. This is a sobering spiritual reality.
In order to deliver us from this evil and adulterous generation bound by idolatry, God gave His own Son, Jesus, to set us free from the power of idols: “The blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, will cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:14).
God has loved you with an everlasting love and has drawn you to Himself with unfailing kindness (Jeremiah 31:3). So do not love this world or the things it offers, for nothing in the world can satisfy your hunger and thirst. Place your hope only in the Lord: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31).
Like Paul, we must live by faith in Christ alone: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Only when Christ becomes your True King will the power of idols in your life collapse. You will have victory over idolatry in your mission field.
To stand firm against the idols of this world, knowing and living with Christ must be your life’s highest priority. Again, Paul testifies: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” (Philippians 3:8–9).
Jesus came so that you may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9–10). Jesus, who has all authority in heaven and on earth, is with you now and forever (Matthew 28:18–20).
Experience the life and power of Jesus in every moment of your life. Only Christ. Only the Gospel. That is the only way to save the world from idolatry. Why not bow your knee at the name of Jesus and worship Him? God will use your life to set people free from the bondage of idolatry all over the world.
Prayer. Father, I worship You and You alone. Open my eyes to see all my idols and fill me with Your power to demolish them. Use my life to break down the altars of idols in my mission field and to save people from idolatry. In Jesus’ name, Amen.