Throughout Scripture, one of the themes that can be found is God calling people to let go of worshiping idols. Idol worship is putting any person or thing in the place that only God deserves. This can be seen in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, idolatry looked like worshiping wooden, carved images instead of worshiping God. In the New Testament, we find that idolatry is more than worshipping a carved image. It is also putting people, possessions, positions, or any other thing before God’s place in our lives. The beautiful thing is that, despite our tendency to wander and put other things in God’s place, Scripture teaches that God constantly pursues us and calls us out of idolatry.
Exodus 20 records a list of all of the commandments that God gave the people of Israel. The very first of these commandments said, “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but Me” (verse 2). This command came first, before anything. In giving instructions to His people, He called His people to put Him before anything else. Then, the second commandment that He gave was this: “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea” (verse 4).
Before God gave commandments in Exodus 20, He gave the reason why He should be obeyed. He said, “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery” (verse 2). You see, He was, and is, the true God. He had also been the provider for the people of Israel, brought them out of slavery, and taken them every step of their lives. Because of this, He deserved their obedience. He also deserved to have no competition with idols in their lives. After all, He is the one true God.
These commandments were not only for the Israelites and the followers of Christ in the New Testament; they are for you and me as well. Many things are competing for our attention and affection. If we are not careful, we can make our own idols out of the possessions, positions, or people in our lives. After all, He is the only God, and just like He protected and provided for the people of Israel, He has always been our protector and provider as well. May we set aside anything that competes for the place of God in our lives.
Take some time to think about what it is competing for your attention and affection in your life. What are the things that are fighting to take the place of God? Write them down. Ask Him to help you as you seek to let go of these things competing for His place in your life. Tell a trusted friend about these areas as well and ask them to help keep you accountable as you seek to keep God first in your life.
Ten Commandments for the Covenant Community
Then God gave the people all these instructions:
“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
“You must not have any other god but me.
“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
“You must not murder.
“You must not commit adultery.
“You must not steal.
“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.
And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”
“Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”
As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was.
