FRIDAY, JANUARY 20
EXODUS 32:1-6
1 CORINTHIANS 10:14

"… my dearly beloved,
flee from idolatry."

APOSTASY BREEDS IDOLATRY

Apostasy is not just a turning away from God by individual professing believers. It also involves a united stand of a professing group of people (such as a church) against God. Individuals and churches that apostatize generally go on to idolatry.

The children of Israel saw that Moses had long delayed in coming down from Mount Sinai. They assembled and went to speak to Aaron. Before Moses went up, he had told the elders, "…Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them" (Exod 24:14). They were right in approaching Aaron, but they were very wrong when they requested for an image of God.

The people turned away from the LORD and worshipped the image that Aaron made. The Psalmist described this apostasy: "They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt; Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red Sea" (Ps 106:19-22).

In 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, Paul used this incident to describe their "fathers" who sinned at Sinai and subsequently perished in the wilderness. He transported his audience to the foot of Sinai to become eyewitnesses of Israel’s apostasy.

Will you exchange God (who created and sustained you) for man-made idols? Will you leave Jesus (who ransomed and saved you) for wooden statues? Will you deny the power of the Holy Spirit (who indwells and empowers you) and embrace painted icons? Seek not to worship idols!

THOUGHT: Do I have idols in my life?
PRAYER: "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands" (Ps 115:2-4).