70_No other gods

< p style ="text-align:justify;">Ex 20: 1-3 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">William Temple, a pious servant of God, once said, “Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of the mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose—all this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable.” These words capture the essence of what God desires in our relationship with Him. Yet, as we look at the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me,” we realize how often our lives fall short of this calling.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">God had just delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. Exodus 20:1-2 declares, “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 slavery.’” Before giving the law, God reminded them of His faithfulness, deliverance, and power. Their obedience was not a means of earning His favor but simply the response of faith to their redeeming God. He had demonstrated himself to be worthy of their worship, loyalty, and trust.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">God is omniscient. This sets Him apart as the only one worthy of our worship. Scripture reveals that He knows all things: “God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything.” (1 John 3:20). Nothing escapes His knowledge. He knows our words before we think them (Psalm 139:4) and knew us before we were formed (Psalm 139:15-16). Such knowledge calls us to stand in awe of his constant presence and complete knowledge.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">God is omnipresent. There is no place without Him. David asks, in Psalm 139:7-10: “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” We can never be hidden from His care, but neither are our sins hidden from his sight.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">God is omnipotent. He directs all things and does all that he wants to do. Job humbly acknowledged this, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2). From creation to redemption, God’s unmatched power is on display. Revelation 19:6 declares, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns.” The God of such limitless power and sovereignty deserves to reign over us.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">Even as we affirm these truths, we fail to live by them. The law of God reveals our sinful and rebellious nature, which refuses to submit to God’s good will. Paul writes in Romans 3:20, “Through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” The vague awareness of our shortcomings intensifies and condenses when faced with the clarity and breadth of God’s law. It exposes the depth of our sin and weakness. Like a mirror, the law leaves no room for self-deception.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">Yet, the law was not meant to crush us but to lead us to Christ. Like a caretaker, it leads us to him so that we may be justified by faith (Galatians 3:24). It does crush our foolish self-confidence and self-righteousness, proving that we cannot earn God’s favor through our efforts. It teaches us helpless dependence on the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ, who is our righteousness and the captain of our salvation.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">The story of the golden calf in Exodus 32 vividly illustrates the dangers of turning away from God. When Moses delayed coming down from Mount Sinai, the people grew impatient. They crafted a golden calf and declared, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:4). This was a blatant rejection of God their Saviour. As soon as they stopped fearing God, chaos ensued. The people “broke loose,” lost in the pleasures of sin and becoming vulnerable to their enemies.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">Psalm 115 warns us of the consequences of idolatry: “Those who make [idols] become like them; so do all who trust in them.” (verse 8). Whatever captures our worship, our service, and our trust, other than God—whether it be wealth, power, or our own desires—we are shaped by those false gods. Paul echoes this warning in Philippians 3:19, describing those “whose god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” Jesus Himself made it clear: “No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13).

< p style ="text-align:justify;">What, then, does it look like to obey the first commandment in our modern lives? It begins with a heart of faith. Faith in God leads us to think about and understand his will expressed in His commandments. As we brood on them day and night, His truth shapes our thoughts, words, and actions. We are drawn into deeper love and devotion. We honor Him above all else, directing our energy and strength toward His purposes.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">To illustrate, imagine a marriage where one spouse constantly seeks fulfillment elsewhere. Such betrayal breaks the bond of trust and brings immense pain. This is a reflection of God’s jealousy for His people. He desires our willing and wholehearted reverence, loyalty, and trust, for only in obeying Him can we find true fulfillment. When we pursue other “gods,” we not only dishonor Him but also harm ourselves.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">How do we guard against idolatry? Let us begin with a daily commitment to seek God by taking his word seriously, thinking about what he has revealed, and praying according to his will. When our hearts and minds are filled with His love and truth, we are strengthened to resist the lure of other gods.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">We also need to examine our lives honestly, lest we have put other gods in our hearts. Let us ask God to reveal these things, and instantly remove them, returning to him and trusting Him to satisfy our deepest needs.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">Ultimately, the first commandment calls us to consider our ways. We must see God as being central to our lives. We must confess that he is lord, and his will is the one thing that is important in every area of our lives. As we humbly trust and obey him, we experience the freedom and joy that come from abiding in him.

< p style ="text-align:justify;">Joshua had no doubt as he challenged the Israelites: “Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15). Let our lives be living sacrifices, daily renewed and daily consecrated to his will. As we walk in obedience, our worship will reflect our undivided loyalty to him. Thus, we will fulfill the greatest commandment: to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and to have no other gods before Him. God bless you.