It's A Hard Call

Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel.  He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.  His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.  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 18.1-4]

I want to point out today that the bronze serpent Moses made was the very thing God used - even commanded - to heal the Israelites after they had been bitten by snakes as told in Numbers 21.  

My point is very clear that just because God used something in days past does not mean that it should be worshiped!  So much did Hezekiah 'get this' that he destroyed that bronze serpent on a pole and he was considered a righteous king of Judah.

If we take Hezekiah's example and seek a contemporary application, what would it look like?  Are we even willing to ask this question?  Do we dare look over our religious past with its accumulated 'articles' of importance and make the call to destroy and discard those 'sacred things' that have become objects of worship?

It's a hard call.

Father, thank You for Hezekiah's brave example of genuine holiness and commitment to You!  Help us all to follow his example on a daily basis and get rid of our religious idols regardless of their heritage!