How To Defeat God's People Today: Lure Them Into Idolatry

So Moses said to the people, “Choose some men, and arm them to fight the LORD’s war of revenge against Midian. From each tribe of Israel, send 1,000 men into battle.” So they chose 1,000 men from each tribe of Israel, a total of 12,000 men armed for battle. Then Moses sent them out, 1,000 men from each tribe, and Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest led them into battle. They carried along the holy objects of the sanctuary and the trumpets for sounding the charge. They attacked Midian as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed all the men. All five of the Midianite kings—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—died in the battle. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. Then the Israelite army captured the Midianite women and children and seized their cattle and flocks and all their wealth as plunder. They burned all the towns and villages where the Midianites had lived. After they had gathered the plunder and captives, both people and animals, they brought them all to Moses and Eleazar the priest, and to the whole community of Israel, which was camped on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho. Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. But Moses was furious with all the generals and captains who had returned from the battle. “Why have you let all the women live?” he demanded. “These are the very ones who followed Balaam’s advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the LORD at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the LORD’s people. So kill all the boys and all the women who have had intercourse with a man. Only the young girls who are virgins may live; you may keep them for yourselves. [Numbers 31.3-18] 

What was Balaam's advice?

First, we need to look in the Revelation of John:

“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. [Revelation 2.14] 

But when did Balaam do that? We have no record of it ...Or do we?

Let's start by looking at portions of the first blessing Balaam spoke (focus on bold):

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offerings, and I will go to see if the LORD will respond to me. Then I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” So Balaam went alone to the top of a bare hill, and God met him there. Balaam said to him, “I have prepared seven altars and have sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.” [Numbers 23.3-4]

Balaam's actions here made a distinction between himself and Balak. 

Then, in Balaam's first blessing, he revealed critical information (again, focus on bold):

I see them from the cliff tops; I watch them from the hills. I see a people who live by themselves, set apart from other nations. [Numbers 23.9]

Balaam again revealed critical information about the distinction of God's people versus all other nations. Israel's Ten Commandments and all their laws, ceremonies and rituals distinguished Israel from all other nations. No doubt, Balak, as a king, as a strategic man of war (confirmed by his conscription of Balaam) was paying attention! Balak was obviously covertly compiling a short list of ways to penetrate Israel's strength and he strategically concluded that contaminating their ceremonial "purity" would be a good start. Revelation reveals this is indeed what happened in the Midianite women convincing Israel's men to eat food offered to idols (thus worshiping the gods of Moab, specifically, Baal).

As already stated, Balak learned something from Balaam that was critical to getting the access necessary to contaminate Israel's purity (pay attention to bold):

How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob; how lovely are your homes, O Israel! [Numbers 24.5]

And,

While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women. These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab. In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the LORD’s anger to blaze against his people. The LORD issued the following command to Moses: “Seize all the ringleaders and execute them before the LORD in broad daylight, so his fierce anger will turn away from the people of Israel.” So Moses ordered Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death the men under your authority who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.” Just then one of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman into his tent, right before the eyes of Moses and all the people, as everyone was weeping at the entrance of the Tabernacle. When Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest saw this, he jumped up and left the assembly. He took a spear and rushed after the man into his tent. Phinehas thrust the spear all the way through the man’s body and into the woman’s stomach. So the plague against the Israelites was stopped, but not before 24,000 people had died. [Numbers 25.1-9] 

Based on the scriptures presented here, it was none other than Balaam who inadvertently informed Balak of the significance of Israel's distinction of worshiping only God, and, that Israel's tents and homes (representing sexual purity) were the critical gateway to accomplish that (even in modern times, "sex sells")!

As far as Balaam knew, he likely never even realized his betrayal of Israel until it was too late. If only he had just stayed home in the first place...

So, the lesson for us today is that our enemy, Satan, uses sex to segue us right into idolatry. But, we should not be so dull as to think that only the act of sex is all there is to it. Sex is representative of all self gratification...

Mitigating financial hardship without repentance - independent of God ...is self gratification.

Mitigating loss without repentance - independent of God ...is self gratification.

Mitigating health without repentance - independent of God ...is self gratification.

Mitigating ignorance and weakness without repentance - independent of God ...is self gratification.

Sex is only the "flagship" for all forms of "self gratification" that lures mankind today into the modern idolatry of debt, insurance, medicine and technology. These industries represent man-made idols that God's people, supposedly distinct from the world, make themselves indistinguishable from the rest of the world by their use. Balaam's story is a grave warning to God's people today of the vulnerability and danger that self gratification leads to. There is a reason the First Commandment is first!

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.2-3]

Yes, first things matter. Balaam should have not questioned God's first response that he should stay home. His second inquiry was indeed his first mistake (see The Second Inquiry Is The First Mistake). His first mistake made the way for the king of Moab to lure Israel into violation of the First Commandment - the idolatrous worship of Baal.

Father, help us not be so dull as Balaam. Likewise help us not be so dull as Israel being drawn by self gratification into full-blown idol worship. May the truth of Your Word, fleshed out in Jesus Christ, climax in Jesus' New Testament version of the First Commandment that we give up our own way (self gratification), take up our cross (death-defying faith), and follow Him. So be it.

Seeing It Is The First Step To Understanding It

On the seventh day of the festival, sacrifice seven young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects. Each of these offerings of bulls, rams, and lambs must be accompanied by its prescribed grain offering and liquid offering. You must also sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its accompanying grain offering and liquid offering. [Numbers 29.32-34]

On the Festival of Shelters there is an interesting use of numbers. I should first point out that I have no idea what these numbers all mean...

On the first day of the festival, you must present a burnt offering as a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It will consist of thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects. Each of these offerings must be accompanied by a grain offering of choice flour moistened with olive oil—six quarts for each of the thirteen bulls, four quarts for each of the two rams, and two quarts for each of the fourteen lambs. You must also sacrifice a male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its accompanying grain offering and liquid offering. [Numbers 29.13-16]

While the first day of this Festival of Shelters sets a precedent for the quantities of rams, male lambs, and grain offerings moistened with olive oil used in the burnt offering, the quantity of young bulls decreases each subsequent day of the festival. It should be noted that the quantity of young bulls begins at thirteen.

On day seven, all the quantities remain the same except for the number of young bulls. On that seventh day, the quantity of young bulls included in the burnt offering matches the number of the day.

It should be pointed out that, in addition to the burnt offering every day, a sin offering is prescribed that also remains consistent at a single male goat.

Interestingly enough, this seven-day festival includes an eighth day.

On the eighth day of the festival, proclaim another holy day. You must do no ordinary work on that day. You must present a burnt offering as a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It will consist of one young bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects. Each of these offerings must be accompanied by its prescribed grain offering and liquid offering. You must also sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its accompanying grain offering and liquid offering. [Numbers 29.35-38]

On this anomalous eighth day of a seven-day festival, the number of young bulls inconsistently drops to only one. Likewise, the number of rams and one year old male lambs inconsistently both decrease by fifty percent (one-half their previously consistent quantity). The accompanying grain and liquid offerings remain proportionate to the sacrificial animals.

The one requirement that remains consistent all the way through this festival is the quantity of one male goat for a sin offering.

I believe there must be some mathematical formula demonstrated in the quantities of young bulls, rams, and one year old male lambs that points to Jesus (the "countdown" of young bulls sets my mind to this supposition). The number "thirteen" as the beginning of the "countdown" is intriguing. Then, to jump from "seven" to "one" is also intriguing - I can only suppose that quantity of "one" refers to the singularity of Christ as the only way to God.

Then, the one consistent offering made on all eight days is the sin offering. For all the unknowns of the other offerings, it should come as no surprise to God's people that the sin offering remains consistent because it is the one thing that man remains needful of - from Old Testament times to New Testament times. Jesus' message to repent and believe bears this out. Faith in God through Christ is a daily matter and so is repentance.

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” [Mark 1.15]

Even though I don't really understand all that I am seeing, I am thankful that at least I am seeing it. Seeing it is the first step to understanding it.

Father, thank You for the way You have provided Your Word to us. Thank You that You have hidden the meaning of Your Word to the world so that knowledge is not only commensurate with reading Your Word, but most importantly, that revelation is also commensurate with reading Your Word ...and builds faith. Regardless the level of knowledge and revelation, may Your genuine followers never lose sight of the obvious inescapable need for daily repentance in their journey of faith. Help us first to "see it" then occupy the rest of our lives understanding it - and living it out. So be it.

How To Understand God's Jealousy: Get Married

While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women. These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab. In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the LORD’s anger to blaze against his people. [Numbers 25.1-3] 

The real story here is not illicit sex. 

The real story is the jealousy it provoked (and, provokes) in God because God is a jealous God:

You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. [Exodus 20.4-6]

And, if that is not convincing enough, God even calls Himself by the name "Jealous":

You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you. [Exodus 34.14] 

To read the Bible without an understanding of God's jealousy sets the reader up for gross misinterpretation of all that the Bible teaches. We simply must understand God's jealousy! How do we do that?

God graciously gave mankind the institution of marriage so that, aside from the procreation of offspring, we might better understand His jealousy. God's jealousy for 1st Commandment obedience from His people is not unlike the commitment portrayed in the traditional wedding vow to "forsake all others." It has nothing to do with reason but everything to do with a heart-commitment beyond reason. The beyond reason part is what distinguishes a "married" person. God wants us to be distinctly His and that very much implies that we must distinctly rely only on Him - for finances, security, health, and emotion - in fact, for everything.

To have relationships with debt, insurance, medicine and technology is one and the same as having an affair on God. It is philandering at its worst. In the very areas God wants us to be distinctly His, these idols offer themselves to us and then expect us to believe they are "from God." I have said it before and I will say it again, if I tell my wife that I got sex from another woman because I knew she wanted me to have that sex, it doesn't require a rocket scientist to figure out how that will end! Provocation of jealousy is not advisable - not with a spouse - not with God!

Bottom line: Marriage teaches us that reason has nothing to do with having "no other god." And, it is God Who says what is, and what is not acceptable in our relationship with Him. If we don't like it, we don't have to "marry Him." His distinctions are reserved for those who "marry Him" in faith in Jesus Christ. Not ironically, Jesus used unmistakably exclusive language as to what that looks like:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Father, help us to see the reality of Your jealousy in the marriage relationship. And, as many of us have "learned it well" in human marriage, so may we likewise learn it well in our relationship with You! So be it!

The Second Inquiry Is The First Mistake

Then Balaam left and returned home, and Balak also went on his way. [Numbers 24.25] 

And so the story of Balaam ends... or, so it seems...

As with most stories, there is often more to the story than is told. And, such is the case with Balaam.

First, and I hate to say it this way, but it must be said, Balaam's first mistake was his second inquiry of God regarding Balak's request. 

In considering Balaam's second inquiry of God, it might best be understood if one considers the fact that God is a jealous God. I can think of numerous times I went to my spouse 'a second time' with a request that was previously 'nixed' and was then told "go ahead" even though that "go ahead" was jealous sarcasm signaling wrath to come as soon as I proceeded with the "permission granted."

As it is in marriage so it is with God: it is never a good idea to make a second inquiry hoping for a different answer than the first one. Nothing provokes jealousy quicker. What follows is a plethora of mind games with ourselves as we try to justify our every subsequent move based on a the jealous second response instead of the first genuine response. I've been married 45 years - I know what I am talking about (and, so does my wife)!

With my first observation established above, it should now be understood that the 'rest of the story' is not actually revealed in the context of Numbers 22-24, but in subsequent scriptures.

“Why have you let all the women live?” he demanded. “These are the very ones who followed Balaam’s advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the LORD at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the LORD’s people. [Numbers 31.15-16]

“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. [Revelation 2.14] 

We just don't know for sure if Balaam's advice was given overtly in a separate, unrecorded setting or, if Balak realized from Balaam's inadvertent clues about Israel's unique relationship with God that the only way to overcome Israel then was to contaminate and dilute that distinct relationship with God which was already by this time notably "pure" in both ceremonial and sexual matters. 

I personally lean toward the latter of the possibilities discussed above. Sometimes, saying the right thing in the wrong setting discloses valuable information to an enemy seeking to destroy us. Yes, Balaam should have stood by God's first answer!

How many times have we had an initial "leading" in our spirit about a matter, questioned it a second time, and then proceeded with the second inclination only to make a huge mistake? Usually the second inquiry revolves around personal desires or preferences (our own ways) which are not, in fact, given up in order to take up our cross and follow Jesus. It's all very clear in the writing of this article, but implementation of it is another story altogether - like Balaam's.

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Father, may I be found so attuned to You, my Jealous God, that I trust in and stand by Your first answer in every matter every time - giving up my own way, taking up my cross, and following Jesus. So be it.

It Worked Last Time!

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” [Numbers 20.12] 

Should it not cause us to question why God told Moses and Aaron to specifically speak to the rock, and not strike it for water to come out?

In consistency with all God had done up to that point, we should not be surprised that God "mixed things up" a bit because God honors obedience above sacrifice. Obedience makes the distinction between those who are God's and those who are not. If we simply do things the same way because "it worked the last time," then we are not really obeying but instead mindlessly repeating ourselves.

Some time following Moses' and Aaron's failure to make the distinction of obeying God, the people of Israel once again sinned against God and we have the introduction of the bronze snake on a pole. Here it must be understood that God Himself instructed Moses to make the bronze snake:

Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the LORD told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! [Numbers 21.4-9]

Yes, the bronze snake on a pole was God's idea. Moses and Israel obeyed God and it resulted in healing the people. But, that is not the end of the story... God's miracle was also a test. Let's look ahead to King Hezekiah:

He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done. He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan. [2 Kings 18.3-4]

The very same snake on a pole that Moses had made in obedience to God for a distinct time and place became an idol to Israel! Instead of getting fresh revelation and direction from God, the people operated in rebellious repetition instead of distinguishing obedience. They did the same thing Moses did to strike the rock: he went into "repetition mode" instead of distinguishing "obedience mode."

What Moses did in striking the rock (instead of simply speaking to it) to produce water effectively made an idol of a "stick" used to strike the rock. As much as I can tell, that particular staff (Aaron's staff of priestly authority) was never again used in the performance of miracles. Coincidence? Not likely. Why? Because God is a jealous God and He wants us to hang on His every word in distinguishing obedience (holiness) and not simply repeat ourselves in rebellious independence of Him. That's how God, Whose name is Jealous (Exodus 34.14), works.

We should now then consider Jesus.

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. [John 5.19]

The reason Jesus performed miracles in such a variety of ways was because He was only doing what the Father God by the Holy Spirit was showing Him right then and right there. Every miracle Jesus performed was fresh from God and never a mindless "repeat" of what He'd done before. This proved Jesus' obedience. With every miracle, Jesus demonstrated the distinction of God's way and not His own. This is significant. This is holiness. Holiness distinguishes between those who are God's and those who are not, and it has everything to do with obedience.

In further consideration of Jesus then, we are faced with no uncertain, distinct terms of obedience:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

It would seem then that my repetition of what worked previously, independent of fresh direction from the Holy Spirit, is the gateway to idolatry and rebellion. Ouch.

Father, my "own way" (my un-holiness) could quite possibly be my repetition. May I be found forsaking my own way, taking up my cross and following Jesus with no expectation of doing anything in a way that "worked previously." So be it.

Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. [Psalm 25.4-5]

Who's The Boss?

One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the LORD’s people?” When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell face down on the ground. Then he said to Korah and his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will show us who belongs to him and who is holy. The LORD will allow only those whom he selects to enter his own presence. [Numbers 16.1-5] 

For years I have read this with the idea that this passage is about "spiritual authority." Today, I am not so sure...

In context of the Bible and its progression to this point, God had been distinguishing between who was His and who was not. This was really showcased in Israel's exodus from Egypt. Over and again, God declared His intent to make a distinction between who was His and who was not.

Then, as is seen in the passage above, when Moses and Aaron responded to Korah, Dathan and Abiram, his response wasn't about "who's the boss" but about who belongs to God and who does not - which is much more serious than "who's in charge."

As was seen in Korah, Dathan and Abiram (and then some of the people who followed their rebellion), the penalty for not being "holy" was death. The penalty for not being God's was annihilation. Interestingly enough, it was a "natural disaster" (the ground opening up) and then a plague of sickenss that carried out the death sentence upon the unholy ones.

Could it have been a sheer coincidence that the ground opened up at just the moment Moses said it would? Sure. Could it have been purely a coincidence that a deadly plague broke out upon the people when it did? Sure. Could it have been a coincidence that the plague stopped at the very moment Aaron stood between the people? Sure. BUT! Should we not understand that it was a natural disaster and sickness that killed the people? Shouldn't we see that it was a natural disaster and sickness that distinguished between who was God's and who was not? Do we not see that these deadly curses are indeed the prescribed punishments for disobedience to God (confirmed later in Deuteronomy 28)?

And yet today, we give no thought whatsoever to the distinction being made by these exact same natural disaster and sickness curses when we encounter them. Instead, we mitigate them with insurance, medicine, and, ...oh yeah, religious prayer - without a moment's consideration of what Moses and Aaron did... Look at verse 4 from the passage above:

When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell face down on the ground. [Numbers 16.4]

Moses and Aaron did not stick out their chests and demand subservience from the people. They fell on their faces before God in repentance and intercession. They knew a "distinction" was about to be made between who was God's and who was not - and it was not going to be pretty.

So, what do we do with our natural disasters and sicknesses? We do the same thing the world does: call our insurance agent or go to the doctor. Instead of resorting to repentance and intercession eliciting the distinction of God's blessings, we mitigate the curses with man-made solutions.

Is it any wonder Jesus laid out such a "distinct" gauntlet?

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

The curses upon Korah, Dathan and Ibiram are the same curses today. These "natural disaster" and "sickness" curses make the same distinction today between those who are God's (who have given up their own way, taken up their cross and followed Jesus) and those who are not.

I am afraid we missed the point regarding Korah's story... It's much deeper than just "Who's the boss?".

Father, help us to see that there is indeed a "distinction" between who are Yours and who are not. Forgive us for all our religious interpretations of Your Word that deny the distinctions made by curses past and present. May those who are Yours truly be distinguished from those who are not. So be it.

Salvation - An Illusion?

And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. [Numbers 14.8] 

There is little that I would add today to the 2024 article "In Christ" Is So Important. 

What stands out to me today is the phrase if the LORD is pleased with us. I am reminded that there is only one thing that yields God's pleasure: faith.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. [Hebrews 11.6]

Obviously, "faith" is clearly defined as "faith in God" (that He exists and rewards those who sincerely seek Him). The qualification of believing God exists and rewards those who sincerely seek Him sets the contrast for what does not please God: believing idols exist and that they reward those who seek them.

Just get ready... this is going to get uncomfortable.

The first three of the Ten Commandments are meaningless unless we understand that God is a jealous God. The 2nd Commandment gives clarity:

You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. [Exodus 20.4-6]

"God and..." doesn't cut it with God. He is unwilling to share His glory (the glory of being our one and only God) with anything or anyone else. Ninety-nine percent faith in God and one percent faith in idols does not please God. He is either "all pleased" or "not pleased at all." This "all or none" demand is clearly repeated by God-in-the-flesh, Jesus:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Any time man today uses the phrase "God uses..." to defend something of man's own device, he has inadvertently identified an idol. This understanding clearly sheds light on a plethora of idols in modern society! These idols may be categorized in four broad groups: debt, insurance, medicine and technology. These four groups account for the wholesale violation of the 2nd Commandment (no idols) and, every time man defensively declares "God uses..." these man-made remedies, he tags on violation of the 3rd Commandment (misusing God's name) as well. God's Word is clear on the truth of this. It is man who is unclear - God's Word shines brightly and declares loudly on the subject, but man's eyes are blind and his ears are deaf. They have been made blind and deaf by man-made idols:

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8]

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have  mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18] 

How can man so blindly and deafly presume that God is pleased with him when he adamantly holds to and defends man-made idols? Here's a hint: he can't. God is NOT pleased with man's idolatry regardless what man calls it. It's not man's "call" anyway (see Commandments 1-3 and Jesus' "follow Me" demands).

You know, we could think we were okay "in Christ" if only the Ten Commandments demanded singular, undivided faith. But the fact that Jesus demanded we must give up our own way and take up our cross to follow Him confirms that God is just as adamant about singular, undivided faith today as ever.

"Faith" that does not proactively turn away (repent) from idols is no faith at all in God's eyes. And, if there is no faith, then God is not pleased. If God is not pleased, then there is no salvation (regardless what we think or want to believe) - it is simply an illusion. Jesus said "give up your own way..." Idols are the way of man - solutions made by and for himself to meet needs God jealously said He would take care of. If we do not give up our idols, we cannot be followers of Christ. God in His Word simply (but adamantly) does not allow it.

Father, I know we can "ask for forgiveness" all day long. But as long as we defiantly refuse to "turn away from" our idols to follow Jesus, salvation is just a religious illusion. May those who truly wish to follow Jesus (myself included) genuinely forsake all (giving up their own way and taking up their cross) to follow Him. So be it.