Rain and Idols

I couldn’t help it.  This morning I decided it was high time for me to go look up some scripture that talk about rain. If I copied them all here, you’d never get anything done today and I wouldn’t either. So after reading and cross referencing and thinking about all the constructive uses of rain, I settled on these.  Leviticus 26:3-5 “If you live by my decrees and obediently keep my commandments, I will send the rains in their seasons, the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. You will thresh until the grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting time; you’ll have more than enough to eat and will live safe and secure in your land.” The time that this was written, God’s people were immersed in idol worship.  I’m not a Bible scholar at all, but what I got out of reading that chapter are the two paths available to follow.  Disobedience to God with idols of all makes and models OR Obedience with adoration for God and no idols.
Here we are in the 21st Century, all smug with a trail of history books and translations of the Bible, and we can’t figure out how those people could be so – well – so blind. Come on guys, that’s a no brainer.  Surely you can see that God has rescued you from your circumstances and spared your lives from ruin. Hey! Look didn’t God spare you from famine and how about the sparing of your sons through the Passover.  Then I remember that these people didn’t have the advantage of history.  They were seeing and experiencing this life for the first time. They had Moses and the 10 Commandments – that was in writing. But they didn’t have the public library where they could go to Google the history of God’s provisions over and over.  They didn’t have Wall Street and the stock market to worry about, but they had their own version of survival even back then. And they had their hearts desires . . .  just like we do today.
We might not have an idol made of wood or bronze or gold propped up where we gaze at it and expect that inanimate object to fulfill all our dreams. But we have idols of another element and characteristic. For some it’s their work, others have hobbies, some crave status, money, success or recognition. I’m not sure how to even define an idol today, but I know that when we expect an object or a person or a vocation to change our lives, it’s an idol. If we have singular focus and it ignores or detracts from God and even turns us from him, we’ve got an idol. It’s not too late to start down the path of obedience and begin the trek toward a harvest of peace and abundant joy.
Back in Leviticus the rain was physical and we’ve certainly had our share of  pouring rain, but the truth to think about today is the obedience factor and getting rid of the junk idols that barricade our paths to contentment. Let’s visit Joshua 23:14 which was many years later. ““Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”
Tearing down idols seems to be the thing to do.  I’m all over that! What do you think?  Do you have any idols?

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