Introduction

In Exodus 20, we are introduced to the Ten Commandments. Verses 1-5 have the first 2 commandments, And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.”

Over the next century, God’s people embrace idolatry; creating images to bow down and worship. Over and over again, God warned them of such foolish things and threatened to send them into captivity if they didn’t repent.

In the end, God carried out His promise and carried both kingdoms; the Northern ten tribes and Southern two tribes into their respective captivities. For the southern kingdom, it would be seventy years before they returned to native soil. However, for the northern kingdom, they were absorbed in the conquest by Babylon.

This article looks at the differences between the God of the Bible and the gods of the lands (idols).

The 10 Plagues

One of the early bible stories, that children learn, is that of Moses and the ten plagues (Ex. 6-12). How Moses and Aaron approached Pharaoh and demanded that he’d let the people go. And one-by-one, a plague was brought upon the people of Egypt to show the power of the One True God.

What people might not realize is that the purpose of each plague was to challenge each of the so-called Egyptian Gods to prevent the plague from happening. This is concluded in the statement found in Exodus 12:12, ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.’

The Golden Calf

You would think that the Children of Israel would learn this lesson about idols. But the story of The Golden Calf shows that they didn’t.

Having been brought out of Egypt, and led to Mount Sinai, the Ten Commandments were given. As listed in the introduction of this article, the primary commandments were about serving God the Father only and not creating images of gods; idols.

However, when Moses went up into the mountain to receive the stone tablets, he delayed and the rest of the people assumed he died or left altogether. They then turned to Aaron, Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD.” Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. (Exodus 32:1-6)

Notice, in verse 4, what Aaron said concerning the molten calf, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” How can an idol do anything for them if they had to create it first? This is the chief problem with idolatry! To worship a god, as an idol, they’d have to create one first.

Jehovah vs. Idols

Psalm 115:1-8 gives an explanation of idols and what they can’t do. A individual then can compare that to the things that the God of the bible can do.

Verses 5-7 give a perfect description, They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat.

Jehovah has a mouth and can speak, Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light (Genesis 1:3). He has eyes and can see, Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day (Genesis 1:31).

Jehovah has a nose and can smell, And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done” (Genesis 8:21). He had hands and can use them, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand (John 10:29). And, again, in Hebrews 10:31, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Jehovah has feet according to Acts 7:49, ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me?’ says the LORD, ‘Or what is the place of My rest?’ We’ve already shown that God has a mouth and can speak, here’s further proof, Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth” (Genesis 9:8-11).

Idols Today

Idolatry is still with us even today in 2024. The catholic church house many idols of Jesus, Mary, and the patron saints. People bow down before them, light candles to them, even pray and speak to them.

Even jewelry that is fashioned into a cross is idolatry as well. It is their way of showing that they are a religious (or spiritual). I truly find it hard to believe that Jesus, himself, or any of his disciples, would wear a cross around their neck when He, himself, hung on a cross for six hours. It makes no sense whatsoever. It’s the same with religious slogans on T-shirts, bumper stickers, etc. Your faith shouldn’t be something you wear to prove it.

Being a Christian is a lifestyle that is seen in the way you live and talk. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Conclusion

As the apostle Paul states in Acts 27:25, “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” This plainly shows the inferiority of idols and that they cannot do anything without our physical involvement.

The God of the bible is vastly superior in anything and everything that man has made. For further reading on idols, please read Isaiah 44.