Daily Devotional for Wednesday, July 15

Israel’s Idols Destroyed

“The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it,” Hosea 10:5.
“I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42:8). The Lord God above is the only true God, and He is worthy of all glory, honor, worship and praise. At the triumphal entry, the Pharisees wanted Jesus to rebuke His disciples for openly praising Him as their King and Messiah. Jesus answered them, “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40). We were created to worship and adore our Creator, and His glory is not to be given to any other.
At Mount Sinai, the people of Israel experienced amazing things as they witnessed the glory of Almighty God! There was great thunder and lightning, smoke ascending, and a trumpet so loud it caused them to tremble. They were commanded by God to have no other gods before Him and make no graven images (Exodus 19:16—20:6). Yet, they grew weary waiting for Moses’ return, made a golden calf and worshiped it as the one who had delivered them. Moses burned their lifeless idol, ground it to powder and made the Israelites drink up their wickedness. Many died due to their idolatry (Exodus 32).
The nation of Israel did not learn from the sins of its forefathers. The people of Israel committed the same idolatrous worship, set up golden calves and established an entire system of worship to these false gods. But God will not share His glory. Their idols were taken by Assyria in the captivity, their high places left desolate, and Israel left in ruin.

REFLECTION
Do you have other gods in your life? Anything that comes before Christ is a god. Do not give glory to any other beside the Lord.

Darla Goodrum