PASTOR’S NOTES
But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images.”
What have you been falling in love with? What are you teaching your children and others around you to love most? Most of us could answer that question in many ways, consisting of special people in our lives, hobbies we enjoy, or responsibilities that take up a good chunk of our days. No matter what you answered, we all live in the truth that what we love determines where we go. Love is a road that will either take us to pain or peace. This is a common reality that all people will experience in life.
God knows this to be true and in this week’s text He is warning His people on the dangers of falling in love. All through the book of Exodus, we see the constant command to not love anything more than we love God. This is one of the major themes of the book.
Be careful who you love!
This week’s text describes a snowball decent into idolatry for God’s people. Not only do we read a warning, but also a glimpse into the future as idolatry is exactly what happens to God’s people past the book of Exodus. The warning becomes a reality!
In the story of God’s people, first came a truce with other gods, then toleration of those gods, then worship of them. God tells them to be careful of this slippery slope that so many fall into. God reminds the people that He is a jealous God that will not be a God of leftovers. That not only will the worship and love of other Gods take away His blessings, but it will also leave you lonely and further away from the One that means the most.
When we give our heart to people or things outside of God, our heart will always be broken. The road of idol worship is a road in the direction of pain and emptiness. As parents, we often tell our children the same message, “Be careful who you give your heart to.”
To parents who are older and wiser, we often can tell where certain roads are going to lead our children if they choose to walk down them. That is why good parents are so involved in every day events in our children’s life. As parents, we desire our children’s heart to be strong and protected.
In chapter 34, God is acting in the same way. He is promising to be with the people and to show all of His glory in amazing ways if the people can just stay committed to an exclusive relationship with Him.
Chapter 34 is just another example of “perfect parenting” in the book of Exodus.
SCRIPTURE TO GO ALONG WITH THE MESSAGE
Read Psalm 115:4-8 on the topic of idol worship.
HIGHLIGHT IN YOUR BIBLES
Highlight verses 11-17 in Exodus 34 this week.
