If you take a trip to the White House you will see signs forbidding photography. This is supposedly for reasons of national security, but we all know it’s so they can sell more postcards in the gift shop. These verses in Exodus make it pretty clear that God doesn’t want His picture taken either. Nor, does He want a statue made, or any other type of an image.

Many have misunderstood this commandment. They have taken it to mean that God is condemning any type of photography or pictures. E.g. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses are this way. Some feel that any art, statues, dolls, stuffed animals, etc, are forbidden. That view, however, is simply adding to the Word of God. This Commandment was given for the sole reason of preventing men from inventing objects to be used in worship.

It may be hard for us, people who have never been exposed to true idol worship, to comprehend exactly what God is saying. However, there are truths given in these verses that we all need to learn.

1 – The restriction of deity

• Command to follow. God says, in no uncertain terms, that producing an image intended to receive worship is forbidden!
• Custom to flee. Since the early days of man’s civilization, he has invented for himself idols, and representations of his concept of God to worship. Idolatry always seemed to be Israel’s weakness. This first manifested itself in Exodus 32:1-14, with the incident concerning the Golden Calf. Israel’s idolatry was rooted in the fact that their hearts were turned away from the Lord. This violates the first Commandment. They also seemed to manifest an over dependence on Moses and had elevated him to the place of a little god. Then, they tried to spiritualise their error by equating the worship of the calf with worship of Jehovah God. When a person needs some image or representation of God to assist in worship, it is a sure indicator of a lack in the spiritual life of that individual.
• Change to fix our hearts on. Idolaters genuinely believe that their idols are truly god. This is proven by their bowing to it, praying to it, sacrificing to it, giving to it, etc. Many even hold installation ceremonies where the deity is invited into the idol to take up residence. You and I should resolve that we will allow no image to take the place of God in our hearts!
• Man is forbidden from this foolish and vain activity.

2 – The reason for the demand

• Their inferior nature No matter how hard man tries, he can never properly represent God. After all, God is a Spirit. See John 4:24. Man, in his zeal to worship and honour God, has sought to flatter Him by producing images of Him. However, the Almighty cannot be limited to stone, wood, plastic or some paint on canvas. As hard as man might try, he can never properly depict God. No matter what form that image might take, it will always be inferior to the True and Living God. See Psa. 115:5-8; Jer. 10:1-7; Rom. 1:23. How does little man portray a big God? See the parable about Abraham. Men usually become like the thing they worship.
• Their insidious nature Insidious means “crafty.” God’s desire for man is that every man enters into a living, personal relationship with Himself. He doesn’t want us giving our devotion to a false god. He wants us to be intimate with Him. You see, we do not need some image to aid us in our worship of God. We have a person on the inside who will guide us in our worship of God. See John 14:16; 16:13. God is also well aware of the fact that behind any idol there is a very real devil that is looking for souls to claim for Hell!
• Their invading nature According to verse 5, God is a jealous God. The Israelites were God’s people and He would tolerate no interlopers in that relationship. Imagine a man flirting with another woman in the presence of his wife! God will have no idol, no image, no person or thing taking His rightful place on the throne of our hearts. See Isa. 45:5. We must search our hearts and lives to see if we have removed everything that would insert itself ahead of God in our lives.

3 – The results of disobedience

• The burden of God’s judgment. When we elevate anything, or anyone to the place of Godhood, we will find out too late that neither it, nor they, will be able to protect us from the awesome wrath of God. See Psa. 59:8. The Philistine god Dagon in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant. See 1 Sam. 5:1-5. Judgment will always stalk the idolater.
• The blight on succeeding generations. God is not saying that he will punish the children for the parent’s sins. See Deut. 24:16; Ezekiel 18:19-32. He is saying that sin leaves its mark on our children! Children tend to resemble the environment they are exposed to. Patterns of abuse walk, talk, etc. Often, it takes generations to break the cycle established by the parent. The contrast between judgment and mercy – verse 6! See Rom. 5:20!

In truth, we are all guilty to some degree of manufacturing little gods for ourselves. We may not have a statue or an image to which we bow down, but we do have habits, traditions, activities, people and possessions that we place ahead of God. This is idolatry and this is sin. No person or thing deserves your worship more than God Himself. Is He receiving it as he should? Is God Almighty your One and True God?

Categories: Exodus