An Old Contemporary Problem

Then at last the people will look to their Creator and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will no longer look to their idols for help or worship what their own hands have made. They will never again bow down to their Asherah poles or worship at the pagan shrines they have built. [Isaiah 17.7-8]

One thing we know about humanity is that it repeats the same sin over and again. While that sin may manifest is a variety of forms, it is, at its core, the same sin. That sin is not trusting in God alone.

There is a reason that early in the Ten Commandments is given the following rule:

You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.3]

God is serious about His people trusting Him. But not to be overlooked is God's seriousness about His people trusting Him ALONE!

In all of today's OYCB reading, we see this theme. We also see Hezekiah who is said to stand out among kings of history:

Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. [2 Kings 18.5]

This is important. What Hezekiah did gives us a good idea what "You must not have any other god but me" looks like! So, what did he do? Most notably:

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 18.4]

Hezekiah's dealing with Nehushtan presents a real problem for something very contemporary to us today. In a quick synopsis, Nehushtan was the snake-on-a-stick that God indeed provided for Israel look upon for healing when in the wilderness they were being bitten by snakes. It appears, even though "God gave it," Israel had begun to worship the gift more than the giver. And, where this is problematic for modern Christianity is that the snake-on-a-stick (Nehushtan) is the very readily recognized symbol of modern medicine.

IS ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION AT ALL?????

Remember above where I said humanity repeats its sin?

Father, help Your people today to distinguish themselves as Yours as did Hezekiah!