In today’s Old Testament reading, we see God’s swift punishment for idolatry. Though God is patient and merciful with us, it doesn’t mean He’s changed His mind about sin. Sin and idolatry still have painful consequences. But the problem is that idolatry has a blinding effect. And we can become blind to our blindness.
We end up blinded about how we grieve the Holy Spirit when we sin against God, blinded about the extent of our sin and how it hurts others, blinded to the source of our sinful choices, and finally, blinded to how easy it is to justify our sin.
So, how can we tell if something in our lives, even something good, has become an idol?
Welcome, to “God’s Word Day by Day.” This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each day’s post and a list of all the Bible readings so you can check them off as you go. You’ll also find the daily posts on YouTube. The daily emails now have a link to both these Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here.
Today’s Readings:
Numbers 25 & 26
Psalm 34.1-7
Proverbs 11.28
Mark 13.21-37
The Blinding Effect of Our Idolatry
Numbers 25 & 26:
Gross Idolatry
In the previous chapters of Numbers, the King of Moab had tried repeatedly to bribe a false prophet by the name of Balaam into cursing the Israelites. While God would not allow even this false prophet to curse his people, they effectually did it to themselves.
1 Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel (Num. 25.1-2).
The Moabites’ worship involved sexual immorality. So, the Israelites not only intermingled with this pagan nation but took part in sexual acts with the women of Moab and bowed down to their gods, a violation of the first commandment and punishable by death.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the Lord, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel” (25.4).
But before it was over 24,000 people had died.
As we see God’s swift and strong judgment on sin in this passage, we need to remember a couple of things. First, He was protecting the people and the Messianic line.
But second, though God is patient and merciful with us, it doesn’t mean He’s changed His mind about sin!
Only the Blood of Christ
It’s only the blood of Christ that keeps us from a similar fate. But just because God has redeemed us, it doesn’t mean we should think we can live any way we please.
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Rom. 6.1-4).
And as Paul told the Galatians:
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life (Gal. 6.7-8).
Our Idolatry
We may or may not bow down to carved images, but we are often guilty of having other things on the throne of our hearts in place of God Himself, the essence of idolatry. We may believe we must have a spouse to be happy. Or if we’re married, believe we must have a godly husband. Men may demand their wives respect them. We may believe we must have obedient children. Or we may have some other, “I must ..” that we believe is required for us to be happy. Even good things can become idols if they are the focal point of our lives instead of God.
Ask yourself, “Is there something or someone without which I can’t be happy?” Has it become an idol? Even how we respond to our circumstances and other challenges can reveal idols like good health, personal freedom, and a desire to control what’s going on in our lives.
You might wonder how we can tell whether something has become an idol. The short answer is, if we’re willing to sin to get it (lie, cheat, get sinfully angry), sin if we don’t have it (nag, become bitter or resentful), or sin if we think we might lose it (become jealous, fearful, demanding, etc.), that thing has become an idol.
Ask yourself, am I willing to get involved with an unbeliever because God hasn’t provided a husband? Am I willing to get angry if my kids don’t behave or nag to get my husband to change? Am I worried and anxious about something instead of trusting God?
The Blinding Effect
And a dangerous fact about idolatry is its tendency to blind us to our condition (Ezek. 14.1-8). We end up blind to our blindness. When that happens, we can justify sin or even refuse to see that it exists. We murmur and complain like the children of Israel in the wilderness. We compromise our moral standards, resort to sinful anger, or give in to fear. And we refuse to see how our sin is hurting others and dishonoring God.
It is sin—pure and simple. No amount of sugar-coating will change it, but the answer is just as simple—to repent and turn away from our idols (Ezek. 14.6), receive God’s forgiveness, and seek His help to grow and change.
And now a few thoughts about today’s other readings:
Psalm 34.1-7:
Evidence of Our Triune God
The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them (v. 7).
Many believe that the phrase “the angel of the Lord” refers to an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ. Even though the term Trinity is not used in the Bible, the evidence of a Triune God is there in both the Old and New Testaments.
Proverbs 11.28:
Trusting in Riches
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.
Notice it doesn’t say, “he who has riches will fall,” but “he who trusts in riches will fall.” This is true if we’re trusting in anything or anyone other than God Himself.
Mark 13.21-37:
Are You Ready?
In verse 21 (and in verse 6 of this chapter), Jesus warned that many false prophets and “messiahs” will come claiming they have solutions to the world’s problems. And in the verses that follow, Jesus described many of the events of the Tribulation period, the 7 years following the removal of the Church at the Rapture.
No one knows exactly when all this will take place, although we see glimpses of it throughout history. Our job is to be ready, to be watching and praying, especially for discernment about spiritual dangers.
Let’s be found doing kingdom work: serving Him, spending time with Him in His Word and in prayer, and sharing the Gospel with others.
If You Are Not Sure
If you are not sure you’re ready, talk to a pastor. Ask them to explain the Gospel to you. If you don’t have someone to talk to, you can leave me a comment.
Don’t wait!
You might survive all the catastrophes that happen when millions of people are suddenly gone from their pilots’ chairs, drivers’ seats, and other places and the panic that will follow. You might have an opportunity to turn to God during the Tribulation, but you won’t escape from it once it begins. There is no second chance to escape, except in death. So why take that chance?
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about vows, authority, soul winning, and ask the question, “What are you willing to pour out for Christ?”
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss them.
If you have a prayer request or a question, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the post. I will do my best to answer and would love to pray for you.
And if this post spoke to you, I would so appreciate it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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