Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:1-3
Key Verse: You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3).
Meditation: Perhaps the one most dominant theme of the Bible is the sovereign continuous activity of God. In contrast to idols, which have eyes, ears, mouths and hands but cannot see, hear, speak or act, the Go of the Bible lives and acts purposefully. God reminded Moses and Israel that He cared for them as their Creator and delivered them from Egypt. The ten commands sprang out of 800 years of caring for His people.
“You shall have no other gods before me” reinforced Israel’s uniqueness. They were the only nation with a one-God faith. All other nations around them recognized many, many “gods.” In missionary work I encountered fear of “gods,” even of ancestral spirits. The spirit were credited with “bad luck” because the people who feared them had not properly appeased them. People were drawn to Jesus, but were afraid of the wrath of the ancestral spirits, and so were reluctant to make a public commitment.
The Scriptures never ascribe power to idols, yet Satan can mask himself behind idols and exercise his influence over people through fear. Satan’s power is limited; his doom has been pronounced, yet not fully implemented. We can be bold with the assurance of God’ universal presence and His absolute victory and power over every other force in the world.
Thought for the Day: The backside of the first commandment is the assurance that God alone is supreme and transcends every other god in the universe.
Key Verse: You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3).
Meditation: Perhaps the one most dominant theme of the Bible is the sovereign continuous activity of God. In contrast to idols, which have eyes, ears, mouths and hands but cannot see, hear, speak or act, the Go of the Bible lives and acts purposefully. God reminded Moses and Israel that He cared for them as their Creator and delivered them from Egypt. The ten commands sprang out of 800 years of caring for His people.
“You shall have no other gods before me” reinforced Israel’s uniqueness. They were the only nation with a one-God faith. All other nations around them recognized many, many “gods.” In missionary work I encountered fear of “gods,” even of ancestral spirits. The spirit were credited with “bad luck” because the people who feared them had not properly appeased them. People were drawn to Jesus, but were afraid of the wrath of the ancestral spirits, and so were reluctant to make a public commitment.
The Scriptures never ascribe power to idols, yet Satan can mask himself behind idols and exercise his influence over people through fear. Satan’s power is limited; his doom has been pronounced, yet not fully implemented. We can be bold with the assurance of God’ universal presence and His absolute victory and power over every other force in the world.
Thought for the Day: The backside of the first commandment is the assurance that God alone is supreme and transcends every other god in the universe.
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