The Not-So-Ancient Idols of Ancient Israel

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them… Exodus 20:3-5a

In today’s mindset we might think of idols as golden statues that ancient civilizations would bow down before and worship. Because of this description, many people today, including Christians, may believe that we are above this type of worship. After all, we don’t bow down to anyone or anything especially in our modern western culture.

But bowing before something in biblical times was not the entire act of worship. It was just the outward showing of what was in the heart. The act of worship also included serving the idol. This would prove allegiance to what was worshiped, and it makes perfect sense. Even in our modern relationships, we often do things that will please the people we love. God also expects this of His own followers. 

If you love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

God has given us the story of Israel for a specific reason: 

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

The idol worship of Israel is written to warn us to stay away from it and to show us how much better it is to put God above anything else in our lives.

So how did certain idol worship infiltrate Israel so badly that it eventually led to their destruction and banishment from the land that God had given them?

Firstly, the Bible tells us that from Israel’s very inception the nation struggled to have a completely devoted heart toward the Lord God Almighty. They were constantly divided in their allegiance, always sort of following God but then going after what every other nation around them was doing. 

They did this continually until God gave them a king that had an undivided heart. This is the great King David. His heart was totally devoted to God. Even when David committed immense sin, he would admit it and turn back. His story is what gives us encouragement and hope. Because of David’s influence, Israel as a nation did not have a problem with outright idol worship. But… then comes his son, Solomon. 

For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 1 Kings 11:5

Even though Israel continually struggled with a divided heart towards God, Solomon’s influence no longer made it a struggle. It became accepted. The nation of Israel never before had a ruler that openly worshiped a false god until Solomon. This king who made Israel the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world ignored God’s law and literally made idol worship legal and mainstream. 

Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the mountain that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon. 1 Kings 11:7

Now the door was opened wide to false worship. When Israel split into two nations shortly after Solomon’s death, more gods were added to this list including Baal. The new king of the northern kingdom even made up his own calf-god. 

No more did the people have to hide their idol preference. It could be done right out in the open. But you may be thinking, "so what? What in the world is Milcom, Chemosh, Ashtoreth, Molech, or Baal? Those things don’t exist today, do they?" 

Actually, they do. The names have just been changed. You see, each one of these so-called gods were pretty much the same thing. Each nation just gave them their own name. They all had (and still have) one thing in common—sexual immorality.

Knowing this helps us to understand why anyone would be so easily attracted to these false idols. They actually require this immorality. They allow people to give into physical desires that we intrinsically know are wrong. These “gods” allow people to deceive themselves into thinking that these behaviors are actually good and/or empowering. 

Is this inappropriate behavior a thing of ancient times? We all know the answer to this question. While people today may not install an Asherah pole in their backyard to bow down before, they still will indulge in the behaviors that “serve” this idol. In fact, we even see these people persuading others to accept their ways, i.e. to serve their idol.

The parallel of Ancient Israel with modern society cannot be more apparent: Before Solomon, the practices involved in worshiping these perverted gods was done in secret. After him, they were accepted and even encouraged. Devout believers in YHWH including His prophets who spoke against these idols were mocked and even put to death. 

In modern times, only a few years ago certain behaviors were considered unacceptable and practiced secretly. Suddenly there was a push was to have everyone “come out of the closet." Practices that used to cause shame are now celebrated as good, and those who speak against them are mocked and some persecuted.

People may make the argument that what is happening today is not worship. The answer to this objection is to consider what worship is. Our opening verse describes it as bowing down or serving. When we bow to something we are submitting to it, and serving something in this context is servitude or being enslaved. When we honestly admit what worship is, it's clear that people caught in these behaviors are doing exactly that. They are in every sense worshiping a false idol. 

Along with the sexual perversion, these false gods also incorporate human mutilation and sacrifice. As with any deviate behavior, if it continues it will deteriorate, becoming worse and worse. This is exactly what is happening today. For example:

When the modern abortion movement first began it was with the slogan of “safe and rare.” Now abortion is accepted for any and all reasons until the time of birth. In some states if a baby survives an abortion, the child is allowed to be left to die, which is outright infanticide. Don't believe me? Check out the stats on this here.

The supporters call this murderous act "loving." In fact the new mantra of the abortion movement is that it "saves lives." How ironic is that? It is pure deception plain and simple.

These ancient idols are still being bowed down to and served today, even though they may not be physical idols.

We can also find encouragement: King David is a big one. He sinned greatly, committing adultery and murder. Yet he was forgiven because he confessed and turned away from his sin. We always have that hope. 

There is escape from these vicious false gods for anyone who wants to turn from them: And do not go on presenting the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God. Romans 6:13 NASB (emphasis mine)

And,

No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Being completely devoted to and enslaved to God protects us from these things and is the most fulfilling thing anyone can ever do with their lives. Jesus even says so:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30