Burunche’s Blog

Exodus 20:22-26 Idols and Altars

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.

24 “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’

The Israelites are huddled at the base of Mount Sinai, quivering in their sandals. The mountain has erupted with fire and smoke and the blaring noise of divine trumpets. Nothing the Israelites have previously experienced has prepared them for this! Now that God has laid out the Ten Commandments, He is giving rules for the fashion in which He is to be worshiped, and it’s not like anything the Israelites have ever seen before.

Sure, the Israelites have seen plenty of altars before in Egypt, and they figure that’s how altars are supposed to look like. Now God is totally changing the rules.

The Israelites are used to elaborate Egyptian altars with inscriptions, carved bas relief figures on the walls, altars inlaid with gold and precious stones, and figures representing the sun, moon, and stars, animals, and even reptiles. Stunningly beautiful altars invite worshipers to worship them as well as the deities being honored.

In some mid-eastern cultures, altars are approached by long flights of stairs, and priests climbing those stairs reveal their genitalia as they climb. Depending on the deity being worshipped, in some countries, priests might not wear undergarments, although Egyptian priests wear linen breeches beneath their other robes.

God wants the Israelites to do things as simply and cleanly as possible so that they will worship Him and not an altar or a statue or any other deity. God also knows that people become what they worship, and He wants to be the sole focus of their worship. God demands that the Israelites either build altars from earth or from undressed stones. No carved images. No gold inlays. Eventually, God will order the Israelites to create a simple bronze altar that they can carry as part of the furnishings of the tabernacle. Solomon’s temple will also contain a cedar wood altar overlayed with gold, but still quite plainly designed although skillfully crafted.

In Deuteronomy 27 Moses gives God’s commands about the way in which the Israelites are to worship him in the Promised Land. 11 That same day Moses also gave this charge to the people: 12 “When you cross the Jordan River, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin must stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim a blessing over the people. 13 And the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali must stand on Mount Ebal to proclaim a curse.

What happens later when the Israelites begin straying from God? After King Solomon dies, his foolish son Rehoboam loses most of his kingdom by threatening the Israelites that he will use and abuse them even more than his father has. The prophet Ahijah has already prophesied that God will give Jeroboam ten of the twelve tribes to lead. Ahijah continues to promise that if Jeroboam will remain faithful, God will found a dynasty for Jeroboam as lasting as that of David’s. Jeroboam leads a rebellion, and ten of the twelve tribes split off, leaving Rehoboam only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Sadly, Jeroboam is faithless and refuses to believe God. Jeroboam goes on to mess up by creating his own religion so his people will desert the worship services God has commanded to take place in Jerusalem.

1 Kings 12:25-33 Golden Calves at Bethel and Dan

25 Then Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Peniel.

26 Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”

28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” 29 One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.

The golden calf is often associated with the Egyptian god Apis. In ancient Egyptian religion, Apis was a sacred bull worshiped in the Memphis region, considered a manifestation of the god Ptah and linked to fertility and strength. Even though Jeroboam KNOWS God has delivered the Israelites, he listens to his fears and his pride, trading on the Israelites’ knowledge of Egyptian deities. And worse is to come.

31 Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. 32 He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. 33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.

By refusing to believe God and trust Him and then instituting his own religious, Jeroboam cursed his family. Rather than God establishing a forever dynasty for Jeroboam, only four generations of his family ruled before being eliminated.

Even later, King Ahaz of Judah imports an altar from Damascus during his reign, specifically noted in 2 Kings 16:10-16. This event occurs after he visits Damascus to meet with Tiglath-Pileser, the king of Assyria. An idolater who has already sacrificed a son as a burnt offering to Molech, Ahaz s is impressed by the altar he has seen there and orders a replica to be constructed for the Jerusalem Temple, replacing the original bronze altar. Ahaz commits other desecrations in the temple, all of which are faithfully recorded in 2 Kings 16.

How are we to worship God? During his encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus told her, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)

These days, some churches are going in for light shows and special effect such as smoke machines during worship in hopes of encouraging adrenaline-fueled enthusiasm. But what happens when special effects become the highlight of the service, rather than the Word of God? In an article entitled “Can the Holy Spirit Inhabit Smoke Machines in the Sanctuary?” Manuel Luz takes a critical but loving look at such practices. Luz writes, “But there are pitfalls and tripwires all around these issues of which we must be acutely aware. As A.W. Tozer warned, “Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us.”

At the crux of all these trends is the desire to help worshipers worship, to meet God in a transcendent and transformative way, and to give God glory. And that’s a good thing. The holes in our hearts can be filled only by God, and it is the calling of the church to help people become heart-filled and soul-alive.” This article is part of the first chapter of Luz’s book Honest Worship: From False Self to True Praise and can be found on https://churchleaders.com/worship/worship-articles/334799-can-the-holy-spirit-inhabit-smoke-machines-in-the-sanctuary.html/2.  

Earlier generations might have gotten caught up in the use of pipe organs, orchestras, incense, and glittering vestments for the choir. In some churches, the congregation is still encouraged to dress as richly as possible while in others, anything goes including very short shorts worn by kids lighting the candles on the altar. But Tozer’s comment is the best one: “Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us.”

May God help us so that we will always worship Christ and not become distracted by special effects of any kind. Only then will we enjoy God’s peace.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to worship You in spirit and in truth. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

This is the last of the Ten Commandments, and one of the most comprehensive. Here God is forbidding His people from coveting anything that belongs to those around them. But what does the term “covet” mean? “To covet” means to have an intense desire for something that belongs to someone else. This term often implies a longing that is fueled by envy or an insatiable wish for what others possess. It can suggest a wrongful or inordinate desire, particularly when it disregards the rights of others. Here, “an insatiable wish” indicates a wish that cannot be fulfilled or appeased, no matter how hard someone tries.

While the Israelites remained in Egypt, it’s likely that they coveted the Egyptians’ possessions, their freedom, and their social status. Israelite women might have coveted the clothing they saw Egyptian women wearing. Egyptian nobles would certainly have had better food than the Israelites. But as the Israelites were leaving Egypt, the same Egyptians loaded the Israelites with their most precious possessions, begging them to leave as quickly as possible.

When I was a child, my mother would describe anyone envying someone else for any reasons as being influenced by a green-eyed monster. In fact, Mom was quoting Shakespeare. An internet search reveals the following: The term “green-eyed monster” refers to jealousy and originates from Shakespeare’s play Othello. In Act 3, Scene 3, the character Iago warns Othello about jealousy, describing it as a monster that mocks those it consumes. This metaphor illustrates how jealousy can take control of a person, leading to destructive behavior and emotional turmoil.

The phrase captures the essence of jealousy as a powerful, consuming emotion that can lead to tragic outcomes. Despite warning Othello of the danger of jealousy, Iago actually inflames it, manipulating Othello by suggesting that his wife, Desdemona, may be unfaithful. In the play Othello, jealousy consumes Othello, eventually causing him to murder Desdemona. When Othello learns of Desdemona’s innocence, he commits suicide because he is consumed by remorse.

This commandment helps distinguish the Law of Moses from other ancient codes of justice. When asking the question regarding moral regulations in ancient codes, we find the following: Ancient codes often addressed moral emotions indirectly rather than explicitly forbidding them. While there are no known ancient legal codes that outright ban moral emotions like empathy or guilt, many codes established guidelines for behavior that implicitly shaped emotional responses.

Key Examples:

• Hammurabi’s Code: This ancient Babylonian code included laws that emphasized justice and retribution, which could influence feelings of guilt or responsibility in individuals. It aimed to regulate behavior through consequences rather than addressing emotions directly.
• Ancient Egyptian Laws: These often promoted virtues like Ma’at (truth, balance, order), which encouraged moral emotions such as compassion and fairness, rather than forbidding them.
• Greek Philosophical Texts: While not legal codes, texts from philosophers like Aristotle discussed emotions in the context of virtue ethics, suggesting that moral emotions were essential for virtuous living rather than something to be suppressed.

Overall, ancient codes focused more on regulating actions and societal order than on the emotional states themselves. While many of these writings hint at jealousy as being wrong, this commandment leaves no room for doubt: jealousy is wrong, period. Those who begin by admiring another’s possessions should watch themselves carefully, least they find themselves beginning to covet. When we covet anything, we cheapen ourselves and leave ourselves open for Satan to attack in all kinds of ways. It’s a very short jump from “I WISH I had what he/she has” to “I DESERVE to have what he/she has” to “I MUST have what he/she has.” The final step in this parade is “I will SEIZE what he/she has or destroy them in the process.” Notice that we can begin by merely admiring someone else’s possessions but end in thievery and possibly assault or even murder.

Hebrews 13:5-6 tells us, “5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” When we trust in God and rest in Him, we have peace, a deep abiding peace that comforts and consoles us. We don’t have to envy anybody else, for God is our Provider and He will give us those things we need.

Perhaps one of the most poignant poems about the fallacy of envying someone else is this poem:

Richard Coryby Edward Arlington Robinson

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,

We people on the pavement looked at him:

He was a gentleman from sole to crown,

Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked;

But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

“Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—

And admirably schooled in every grace:

In fine, we thought that he was everything

To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,

Went home and put a bullet through his head.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be content, realizing that You are the Source of all things good and that You will give us what we need. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 20:16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.”

Sometimes we assume that the Israelites had no frame of reference regarding sin before the Ten Commandments; however, that is far from true. Look at the Egyptian culture, one with which the Israelites had lived for 400 years.

Ancient Egyptians viewed bearing false witness as a serious offense, deeply intertwined with their legal and moral systems.

Legal Consequences

• In ancient Egyptian courts, the integrity of testimony was paramount. A plaintiff was required to produce three witnesses to confirm the authenticity of a claim, and false testimony could lead to severe penalties, including losing the case.

Moral Implications

• Bearing false witness was not only a legal issue but also a moral one. It was believed to invoke divine wrath, as the oaths taken in court included invocations against perjury.
• The act of lying in court was seen as a violation of natural law, reflecting a broader moral principle that transcended cultures.

Spiritual Consequences

• The consequences of false witness extended beyond earthly justice; it was considered a sin that could have spiritual repercussions.

In summary, ancient Egyptians regarded bearing false witness as a grave offense with both legal and moral ramifications, emphasizing the importance of truth in their society.

The Egyptians weren’t the only nation to have strict laws prohibiting false witness. The Code of Hammurabi originated in ancient Babylon around 1753 BC. It was created during the reign of Hammurabi, the sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon. The Code of Hammurabi imposes severe penalties for bearing false witness. Specifically, it states that if a person accuses another of a crime but fails to prove the accusation, particularly in cases involving life, the accuser shall be put to death. This reflects the code’s emphasis on justice and the protection of individuals from unfounded claims. Additionally, in some interpretations, the punishment for false testimony could include mutilation, such as the removal of an eye or ear.

The Bible strongly condemns bearing false witness, emphasizing the importance of truthfulness.

Key Verses

• Exodus 20:16 states, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” This commandment highlights the moral obligation to speak truthfully about others.
• Proverbs 19:5 warns that a false witness will not go unpunished, indicating serious consequences for dishonesty.

Importance of Truth

• Bearing false witness can lead to significant harm, damaging relationships and communities. It undermines trust and unity.
• The New Testament also reinforces this principle, encouraging believers to focus on honesty and integrity in their interactions.

Consequences

• The Bible teaches that dishonesty can lead to divine judgment and societal repercussions. False testimony is seen as a serious offense against God.

How are people damaged by someone bearing false witness? Bearing false witness can cause significant harm to individuals and society. The repercussions include:

Personal Damage

• Reputation: False accusations can ruin a person’s reputation, leading to social ostracism and loss of trust among peers.
• Emotional Distress: Victims often experience anxiety, depression, and stress due to the false claims made against them.
• Relationships: Trust is eroded in personal and professional relationships, leading to isolation and conflict.

Legal Consequences

• Defamation Lawsuits: Individuals may pursue legal action against those who bear false witness, resulting in costly legal battles.
• Employment Issues: False allegations can lead to job loss or difficulties in finding new employment due to damaged credibility.

Societal Impact

• Erosion of Trust: Widespread false witness can undermine trust in institutions, such as the media and legal systems, affecting community cohesion.
• Miscarriage of Justice: False testimonies can lead to wrongful convictions or other legal injustices, impacting not just individuals but the integrity of the justice system.

What about reneging on contracts? This too is a form of false witness. For years, our hospital sponsored a young man through medical school and the two years of housemanship, anticipating that he would return to serve our patients. At the time this fellow was completing his housemanship, we really needed his help, for two of our three doctors were out with injuries, throwing an enormous burden on the third doctor. At the beginning of this man’s training, he had signed a bond form, promising to serve the hospital for five years. Suddenly, at the end of the housemanship, this man wrote, claiming that he was “traumatized” at the idea of being bonded for five years and demanding a cancellation of the agreement “by mutual consent.” (He was certainly NOT traumatized while receiving money.) Despite all efforts on the part of senior hospital staff to encourage him that the bond period could be modified, he deserted our facility for another one with richer funding.

By ignoring the bond, this young man essentially bore false witness against our facility, claiming that we had somehow manipulated him. In fact, the bonding process was quite transparent and his family and friends had agreed to the bond.

This sad story serves to illustrate the fact that breaking longstanding agreements comprises a form of bearing false witness. Those breaking their agreements are demonstrating that they originally lied when they first entered into them; meanwhile, they are quite likely to shift blame onto the party suffering from their perfidy.

Ephesians 4:15 tells us, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” When we bear false witness, we sin against God Almighty. God is just and pure and holy, faithful and true. We violate God’s nature when we lie. May God help us to remain truthful in all our dealings.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remain truthful in all we say and do, refusing to lie about others. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 20:15 “You must not steal.

Many people scarcely consider shop lifting to be a crime. “Oh, I’m simply taking something small; the store will never miss it.“ WRONG!!!

Here are 50 facts about shop lifting:

Staggering annual losses- $13 billion annually

Widespread participation-1/11 people engage in shop lifting

Los Angeles shop lifting surge-up 87% from 2019-2023. Other parts of the country are seeing similar trends

Impact on Retail Shrinkage-Retail shrinkage due to shoplifting accounts for 36% of total retail losses annually

 Average Theft Amount-The average value of stolen merchandise per shoplifting offense is $125.

Statistics –25% of shoplifters are juveniles while 75% are adults. Men comprise 55% while women 45%. 30% are repeat offenders and 55% of adult shop lifters began as teens. 20% come from households earning more than $75,000 annually.

(For more information, see https://getsafeandsound.com/blog/shoplifting-statistics/ )

In the last several decades, there have been major examples of stealing on a grand corporate scale-Enron being a prime example. What happened to Enron? The Enron scandal was primarily caused by unethical practices and complex financial manipulations.

Key Factors:

• Unethical Leadership: Top executives engaged in deceptive practices to inflate profits and mislead investors.
• Complex Financial Structures: Enron used intricate financial arrangements that obscured its true financial health.
• Special Purpose Entities (SPEs): These were employed to hide debt and inflate earnings, creating a misleading picture of profitability.

The combination of these factors led to Enron’s eventual bankruptcy in 2001, marking one of the largest corporate frauds in U.S. history.

Then there was the Bernie Madoff scandal. The Bernie Madoff scandal was primarily caused by a massive Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Madoff himself.

Key Factors Contributing to the Scandal

• Fraudulent Investment Strategy: Madoff falsely claimed to generate consistent returns through a legitimate investment strategy, which attracted numerous investors. In reality, he was using new investors’ funds to pay returns to earlier investors, a hallmark of Ponzi schemes.
• Lack of Regulatory Oversight: Madoff exploited weaknesses in regulatory frameworks, particularly the lack of scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Despite multiple warnings and red flags, the SEC failed to investigate adequately.
• Trust and Reputation: Madoff was a well-respected figure in the financial community, having served as the chairman of NASDAQ. His reputation helped him gain the trust of investors, making it easier to perpetuate the fraud.
• Complex Structure: The use of feeder funds and offshore accounts complicated the financial structure, making it difficult for regulators and investors to trace the flow of money.

Consequences: The scandal led to significant financial losses, defrauding investors of approximately $65 billion, and prompted calls for regulatory reforms in the financial industry. Tens of thousands of retirees lost their retirement savings due to Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. Estimates suggest that around 40,930 victims were affected, many of whom were retirees relying on their investments for financial security. The impact was particularly severe for those who had invested their retirement funds, with some individuals losing nearly all their savings.

Some people don’t steal money; however, time is a different matter. Reporting for work late and leaving early, abusing lunch and coffee breaks-these are all ways in which workers can steal from employers without needing a mask and a gun to do so. And what about pilfering from workplaces?

Employee pilfering results in significant financial losses for employers.

• Extent of Losses: Employee theft accounts for approximately $50 billion in losses annually in the U.S..
• Inventory Impact: About 43% of all inventory loss in retail is attributed to employee theft.
• Prevalence: Studies indicate that around 75% of employees steal from their employers at least once.
• Consequences: The repercussions of pilferage can include job loss, fines, and even jail time for employees.

Employee theft is a pervasive threat to businesses, representing far more than simple shrinkage. Occupational fraud, the misuse of an employer’s resources for personal gain, costs organizations billions of dollars annually. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners estimates that organizations typically lose about five percent of their total revenue each year to these schemes. 

Employee theft involves a wide range of deliberate actions where an insider unlawfully takes or misuses company assets. The most frequent type is asset misappropriation, which includes cash theft and inventory pilferage. However, the scope extends beyond physical goods.

Fraudulent acts also include corruption, such as bribery or kickback schemes, where an employee misuses their position for personal benefit. Time theft is another common form, involving employees being paid for hours not worked, often through falsified time sheets or excessive personal internet use. The most financially damaging form is financial statement fraud, which involves the intentional misstatement of a company’s financial records. (https://climbtheladder.com/why-do-employees-steal-from-their-employers/ )

What do all these accounts of theft have in common? In the end, it is society, individually and at large, who have suffered and who continue to suffer. Shop lifting appears to be escalating rather than reducing, despite increased surveillance, RFID tags, etc. Those victimizing their local stores excuse themselves in various ways, arguing that the store is rich and will never miss what they are stealing, that they are underprivileged and their poverty somehow justifies theft. Corporate thieves have more complicated arguments, but the result is the same.

It is ironic that in an age in which people gain glory by the numbers of followers they have on various social media platforms, a true sense of community is diminishing. It’s much easier to steal from faceless corporations than it is from the mom-and-pop store down the street that has sponsored your Little League baseball team for twenty years. But theft remains theft and a crime against one’s neighbors, no matter the scale on which it occurs. When we steal, we hurt those around us, tearing at the fabric of society. And there is another aspect.

We conveniently forget that a holy, righteous, and almighty God is viewing everything we do. It’s as if we assume that God is turning a blind eye to our particular sins; meanwhile, nothing could be further from the truth. God sees and God knows. To God, the size of a theft does not matter; it is the act itself that is wrong. When we steal at any level, we not only hurt society, but we also offend God.

Ask God to show you if there are any times when you have stolen, confess those events as sin, and beg His forgiveness. Then ask God to help you to never steal again.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we confess that we have stolen and excused ourselves because the amounts have been small or the items have been cheap. Lord, please forgive us. Cleanse our hearts with Your holy Love. Help us to turn away and never to steal again. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen

Exodus 20:14 “You shall not commit adultery.

Thecommandment against adultery is the second of the “Neighbor” commandments. When you consider the Ten Commandments, first, God orders His people to respect Him, then to respect and care for their parents, and themselves in the process, and now to care for those around them. Why? What’s the point? God knows that the only way we will have true peace is by caring for those around us.

Adultery is defined as sex between a married person and a person who is not their spouse, without the spouse’s knowledge or consent. Adultery has existed as long as the human race has been around; however, this does not make it either just nor right. If we are truly regarding our spouse as a neighbor, we must remember the verses the religious lawyer quoted to Jesus: Deuteronomy 6:5 (“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”) and Leviticus 19:18 (“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”) To quote a Godspeaks.com billboard that has appeared in many cities, “THAT “LOVE THY NEIGHBOR” THING…I MEANT THAT. – GOD.”

One of the fallacies underlying adultery is the assumption that somehow, one’s spouse is not one’s neighbor and therefore deserves less consideration; in effect, one’s spouse is not respected as a person with emotions or feelings that might be hurt. And what about any children in an affected family? Are the children not also neighbors? Adulterers presume that they can behave as they like without any consequences to themselves or anybody else. There is never an action taken by one individual that does not cause ripple effects throughout a community. The choice by one individual to be unfaithful can encourage others to become equally treacherous. An unfaithful father or mother can cause children to view vows taken before God as dispensable, leading to generations of broken marriages. Children need both parents, and even when a hero parent such as a single mother or father steps in to cover both roles, those children may still develop with emotional hollow spots that should have been filled by an erring parent who chose to leave rather than stay and do the hard work.

Why do people commit adultery? A brief AI search reveals the following:
People commit adultery for various reasons, often influenced by emotional, psychological, and situational factors.

Common Reasons for Adultery

• Dissatisfaction in the Relationship: Many individuals seek emotional or physical fulfillment outside their primary relationship when they feel neglected or unfulfilled.
• Desire for Novelty: The excitement of a new relationship can be appealing, leading some to cheat for the thrill.
• Opportunity: Situational factors, such as being in environments where temptation is prevalent, can increase the likelihood of infidelity.
• Emotional Disconnect: A lack of emotional intimacy with a partner may drive individuals to seek connection elsewhere.
• Justifications and Rationalizations: Many who cheat often convince themselves that their actions are justified, despite knowing they are wrong.

Reading this list, one might begin demanding answers to some pointed questions. For example, you are dissatisfied with your relationship, but how satisfied is your spouse? Have you truly been trying to keep the relationship fresh or have you been coasting, waiting for the thrill to leave so you can run off in another direction? Have you become a marital adrenaline junky, depending on the thrills of new relationships to make yourself feel good? Have you tried to “avoid the appearance of evil,” shunning situations in which you would be tempted, or have you sought out opportunities for temptation. You might pray “Lead us not into temptation,” but are you running after temptation yourself? Don’t blame God when you are the problem! If you feel emotionally disconnected with your spouse, have you actively studied your spouse, asking God to show you new ways to establish connections, or are you pulling even further away and then blaming your spouse? Are you engaging in “stinking thinking,” actively searching for justifications for unfaithfulness?

Successful marriages take a great deal of work, much of it quite mundane. Remember Ruth Bell Graham’s comment when someone asked if she had ever considered leaving Billy Graham. Ruth replied, “Leave? No! Murder-several times!” And yet the Grahams had a highly successful marriage and raised fine children who have blessed the world as well. Small compliments, repeated acts of kindness, a willingness to refrain from criticism, and an equal willingness to be sensitive to the other person’s moods and needs-all these things require thought and an investment of energy, energy that can only come from God. The pressures can mount even more as spouses age and develop major medical problems. Caring for an ailing spouse requires a special dispensation of grace, strength, and courage-gifts only God can bestow. Assuming that you can maintain your marriage on your own without any input from God is a sure route to disaster.

The operative word “cheat” is very important. Adultery is a fundamental betrayal of one’s spouse, no matter the reason. At the same time, when children are involved, adultery equally betrays those children, for adultery threatens family stability. The trust in a parent that children have cherished is destroyed, leaving children feeling abandoned. Sadly, adultery generally leads to divorce, and four out of five times, mothers wind up with custody of the children. But what about child support? Approximately 44.1% of custodial parents receive any child support, and only 10.4% receive the full amount owed. This indicates that while many fathers are obligated to pay child support, a significant portion do not meet their obligations fully. Specifically, studies show that 32% of fathers fail to receive payments from mothers, while 25% of mothers are awaiting payments from fathers.

What did Jesus teach about adultery? Matthew 5:27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Basically, Jesus is teaching that anything that causes you to even consider adultery should be repudiated as swiftly as possible. Whether we choose to remember or not, we are still operating while a holy and righteous God, the Source of all wisdom and truth, watches. God knows our hearts better than we do; there is no way we can possibly fool God, even if we do manage to fool ourselves.

In the end, adultery is never a private matter. Adulterers sin against their spouses, their children, their other family members, their communities, themselves, and most importantly, God Almighty. May God help us to remain faithful to Him and to all those neighbors around us!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remain faithful to our spouses and our families, even when the pressure seems more than we can bear. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

These commandments are the ones I think of as the “Neighbor Commandments.” First, God orders His people to respect Him, then to respect and care for their parents, and themselves in the process, and now to care for those around them. Why? What’s the point?

One day, religious experts were questioning Jesus on this point. Luke tells the story as follows: Luke 10: 25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  

Here the religious expert, this lawyer, is proud as he quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 (“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”) and Leviticus 19:18 (“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”) Surely, Jesus will be impressed that this man can rattle off these scriptures without drawing a breath. After all, Jesus’ question is one that boys in temple school study early on. Now the lawyer waits for Jesus’ approval and receives it.

28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” The lawyer preens just a little, for he has just proven to himself that he can handle this Galilean upstart. But he can’t let the matter go. 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Oh dear! By asking this question, this lawyer is really opening a can of worms. Does this man sincerely want an answer, or is he trying to corner Jesus, hoping that Jesus will not be able to respond appropriately? After all, in this society, there are all kinds of people-Romans, Jews of various descriptions, Greek and Arab traders, and travelers from places nobody has ever heard of. Those Jews who wish to remain clean ritualistically limit contact with such people as much as possible. As a religious expert, this man likely spends most of his days on the temple steps teaching and arguing minute points of religious law with other like-minded men. Unfortunately, this morning he has chosen to confront the wrong guy.

Parable of the Good Samaritan

30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Luke doesn’t record the response of the religious expert to Jesus’ poignant story; however, it’s likely that he gathers his robes around him, adjusts his headdress so everything is correct, and quietly leaves while those at the rear of the crowd snicker at him behind their hands. Is Jesus describing a real event here? Quite likely. While Jerusalem is a city, gossip spreads swiftly, and juicy stories about prominent religious figures spread like wildfire. Perhaps Jesus is describing something that has actually happened. And what if this religious expert was one of those who passed the injured man by? The longer we consider such possibilities, the more fascinating the story of the kind Samaritan becomes. Now let’s examine those commandments.

Exodus 20:13 Murder: The Bible explicitly states that the shedding of innocent blood brings curses on a land. This concept is highlighted in several passages:

• Deuteronomy 19:10-13 warns against shedding innocent blood, indicating that such actions bring guilt upon the land: “lest innocent blood be shed in the midst of your land… and thus guilt of bloodshed be upon you”.
• Jeremiah 26:15 emphasizes personal guilt and divine accountability for those who harm the innocent, stating that it brings innocent blood upon themselves.
• Proverbs 28:17 notes that shedding innocent blood always brings guilt, which demands justice, further reinforcing the idea that such actions have serious consequences.

These verses collectively illustrate the biblical perspective that the act of shedding innocent blood not only incurs guilt but also curses the land itself, calling for justice and accountability.

(AI Internet search)

How much guilt do murderers feel? Murderers’ feelings of guilt vary significantly based on several factors.

• Motivation and Circumstances: The reasons behind the murder play a crucial role. Some may feel intense remorse, especially if the act was impulsive or driven by emotional turmoil, while others may rationalize their actions or feel little to no guilt.
• Psychological Profile: Non-psychopathic offenders often exhibit measurable guilt responses, experiencing symptoms like PTSD and deep remorse. In contrast, psychopathic murderers typically show minimal emotional responses and may lack empathy.
• Neuroscience Insights: Research indicates that brain activity can influence feelings of guilt. Some individuals may kill without experiencing guilt due to neurological factors.

Overall, the emotional aftermath of murder is complex and varies widely among individuals, influenced by psychological, situational, and neurological factors.

But there are two ways to look at guilt. There are feelings of guilt after sinning, but there is also the guilt in God’s eyes that results from sinning. When Cain killed Abel, God confronted Cain. Genesis 4:10 “But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! 11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. 12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”

Even if a murderer feels no remorse, the curses attached to such a heinous act will follow him anyway, depriving him of all peace. The longer a murderer goes on without repenting, the more vividly the act will play in his mind. Yes, such a person can become so hard-hearted that arguments appear to have no effect; however, God can still penetrate the stoniest heart.

What about thoughts of murder? What if you never actually commit a murder but you obsess about doing so? Jesus taught that even thinking about murder is wrong. Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”

Jesus doesn’t leave us any wiggle room. Even considering harming someone or cursing them brings guilt. What can we do about our guilt? Confess our sinful acts to God and beg His forgiveness. Then we will be free and then we will have peace.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we confess that we have sinned by what we have said, what we have done, and even what we have thought. Please forgive us and help us so that we completely turn away from saying and thinking such things. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 20: 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Reading the Ten Commandments and realizing God wants us to keep them to have peace can be very painful. While some parents are wonderful, wise, loving, and encouraging, there are others who are not. Sone parents are abusive, physically, mentally, or emotionally; however, other parents are incredibly selfish, expecting their children to take care of them, rather than their caring for their children. Some parents favor one child over another, withholding affection and help. Some parents choose one child to become a pseudo-parent to whom they can delegate their responsibilities. Some parents take advantage of their children while lying about them in the community. The list of problem parents is long and exhaustive, but the quandary is the same no matter the kind of parent involved: how do you honor a parent who does not behave honorably? Do such parents deserve honor?

There’s something interesting about this commandment, for it doesn’t have any provisos; it doesn’t give anyone a free pass if the parent in question behaves badly. God expects us to honor our parents, period. OUCH! We are to honor our parents, no matter how they behave. How can we give honor to someone who behaves dishonorably?

We should understand what honoring a parent does not mean. If you have an abusive parent of a parent who has treated you badly, you do not have to expose yourself so they can continue to abuse you, particularly if you might endanger yourself by doing so. You have a right to honor yourself as well as your parents, and self-preservation is still allowable. If the parent in question is verbally abusive or manipulative, you can maintain phone contact without getting close enough for them to reach you. You are not obligated to hand over sensitive financial information that will cause someone to bankrupt you or spoil your good name. Be very careful about allowing a manipulative parent to move in with you, for some families have found the manipulator trying to take over the household, draining the family finances.

You should do what you can to help your parent without shortchanging your own children. Favoring your parents over your children will only lead to generational abuse. If your parent truly needs help that you cannot afford to give, you can do everything possible to connect them with groups that can address those needs. You can encourage a drug addict or alcoholic to become involved with twelve step groups that can help them. You can make food bank runs if necessary. Explore any resources available in your parent’s vicinity.  

Above all else, pray for your parents, asking God to bless them and to lead them into a close relationship with Him. The biggest blessing anyone can have is to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Never give up praying, for God can do far more than any of us can possibly imagine.

Years ago, I was working in a VA hospital on a surgery service. One of our most difficult patients was J. M., a diabetic with a severe infection in the sole of his foot. I was the one tasked with cleaning the dead tissue from that wound each morning, and my work was made worse by the patient cursing me while I was working. I continued to pray for God to bless J.M., and one Sunday, I was shocked and thrilled when he requested to attend the church service in the hospital. Eventually, I rotated onto another service and I never learned what happened with J.M.; however, that experience taught me that nobody is beyond the reach of God.

There are two parts to this commandment, and many times we ignore the second part. We are to honor our parents so that we may live long in the land the Lord our God gives us. Whether we like it or not, we bear our parents’ DNA. When we honor our parents, we are also honoring ourselves. When we fail to honor our parents or even curse our parents, we are bringing curses on ourselves, shortening our lives in the process. When we seek God’s guidance, He can direct us so that we can honor our parents without sacrificing our families and live long and happy lives.

May God help us so that we will find ways of honoring our parents, blessing them and leading them to Him.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to honor our parents, even when they are difficult or dangerous. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”

Ancient Egyptians did swear by their gods, but with caution. Swearing was often seen as a serious act, typically reserved for legal contexts or formal occasions. The pharaoh, regarded as divine, was central to this practice, and swearing by his name was generally restricted to high officials. Ordinary Egyptians faced risks when invoking divine names in oaths, as it could be considered dangerous or disrespectful.

In their religious practices, the Egyptians believed that swearing by a god’s name could invoke divine favor or protection, but it also required a level of reverence and responsibility. (AI Internet search results)

For the Israelites coming out of Egypt, being careful with the name of God would have been normal. Ironically, we, on the other hand, misuse God’s name casually, even using OMG as an exclamation in text messages. Spoiler alert: God has not suspended His warning about misusing His name. Ask God to help you so that as soon as you accidentally say “Oh my God” or something similar, you confess, repent, and stop doing it. Want more peace? Be careful with God’s name.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

I am old enough to remember when Sabbath restrictions still applied. Only necessary services were open on Sundays, and most stores remained closed. These days, Sundays are disregarded, and many groups schedule things on Sundays, assuming that nobody will attend church. On the other hand, there are those who are rediscovering the need for Sabbath rest and writing about it.

In an article entitled “5 Reasons You Need Sabbath Rest,” Megan Hill defends the need for regular weekly Sabbaths. (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/need-sabbath-rest/)

1. Sabbath rest reorients our time.

As tempting as it might be to believe we’re masters of our time, carefully manipulating a complex puzzle of Google Calendar entries, we aren’t. God is the One who created time, who set us in it and bound us by it, and God is the One who rightfully directs us how to use it. When we submit to his pattern of six days for work and one for worship, we acknowledge that God is the Lord of time.

The Lord invites us to set aside ordinary things and experience the blessing of spiritual things.

 

The disruption of Sabbath rest is a chance to remember that even our schedules are under the Lord’s authority. Once a week, the Lord breaks into our routine and reminds us that our appointments and plans aren’t ultimate, nor are they prioritized according to our desires. When the first day of every week belongs wholly to him, it reorients every minute of every day that follows.

2. Sabbath rest reorients our work.

I love a to-do list. I’ve been known to complete a task and then add it to my to-do list merely for the pleasure of crossing it off immediately. I measure the success of each day by how many items have a dark slash through them. Phone meeting? Done. Pick up prescriptions? Done. Order groceries? Done. Submit project? Done. Satisfied by my labors, I go to bed happy.

Except on Sundays. On Sunday nights, I have to reckon with the fact that I accomplished very little. I didn’t clock in to my job or run any errands. I have less money in my bank account, having left some in the offering plate. I’ve completed no assignments that I can cross off my list and congratulate myself with. But guess what? I had food in my stomach and breath in my lungs; the sun continued to shine, and the earth continued to turn. I did nothing, and the Lord did everything.

We’re often tempted to think our effort is what keeps us afloat, but Sabbath rest reminds us that it’s the Lord who gives us daily bread, who provides our clothing, and who supplies a place for us to live (Matt. 6:11, 25–30).

Even more importantly, Sabbath rest reminds us that we don’t secure any spiritual blessing by our own hands—including our salvation (Heb. 4:1–13). On the cross, Christ did everything, and we did nothing. We begin every week not with labor but with rest, remembering that Christ has already worked for us.

3. Sabbath rest reorients our allegiances.

Most of us interact with hundreds of people in a given week. We exchange smiles with the mail carrier and texts with a best friend from elementary school. We spend time with classmates, coworkers, neighbors, family members, and acquaintances at the gym. Sabbath rest, however, clarifies whom we’re most significantly connected to: the members of Christ’s family.

Throughout the week, we make time in our schedules for people who matter to us, but on the Lord’s Day, God makes time in our schedules for the people who matter to him. When we gather with the church, we gather with those for whom Christ died.

They may not be the people we’d choose for ourselves, but they’re the people God has chosen for us. They’re the people Scripture calls us to love (John 13:34), greet (Rom. 16:16), know (3 John 15), pray for (James 5:16), serve (Gal. 5:13), forgive (Col. 3:13), and show hospitality toward (Rom. 12:13). Like me, you probably struggle to do these things in your busy week, but on one whole day, we have the opportunity to live out our commitment to God’s people in the church.

4. Sabbath rest reorients our priorities.

I live in the most secular metropolitan area in America. On Sunday morning, I pass neighbors mowing their lawns or on their morning runs. Some are loading up their cars with chairs and umbrellas for the beach; others are organizing the supplies for a home-improvement project. I’ve never seen my neighbors headed to church.

Their Sunday practices testify to what’s important to them: a nice home, a healthy body, time with family. There’s nothing wrong with any of those, but none is the most important thing.

Puritan pastor David Clarkson writes, “The most wonderful things that are now done on earth are wrought in the public ordinances, though the commonness and spiritualness of them makes them seem less wonderful.”

In other words, what goes on in your church on Sunday may not look like much, but it’s the most significant thing happening anywhere in the world. When God’s people gather for worship, the Lord promises his presence (Matt. 18:20), proclaims his Word (1 Thess. 2:13), receives our prayers and praises (Rev. 5:8), makes us holy (Eph. 5:25–27), converts sinners (Rom. 10:14), and seals us to himself in baptism and the Lord’s Supper (6:4; 1 Cor. 11:24).

Seen through the lens of Scripture, church worship is the pinnacle of every week. Truly, “a day in [the Lord’s] courts is better than a thousand elsewhere” (Ps. 84:10).

5. Sabbath rest reorients our pilgrimage.

For several years, I used a planner that had space every month and again every quarter to list big-picture goals for the upcoming weeks. Without those prompts, one day’s to-do list rolled into the next. The blank pages functioned as opportunities to stop and consider where I’d been and where I was headed.

We begin every week not with labor but with rest, remembering that Christ has already worked for us.

 

Similarly, Sabbath rest is a regular nudge for Christian pilgrims: Stop here and orient yourself. Reflect on your journey. Set your heart on your goal. One day a week, we have a chance to take stock of where we’ve been. Where have I experienced the Spirit’s work? Where have I seen answered prayer? Where have I stumbled into Satan’s traps? Where have I grown in grace?

Although we can (and should!) ask these questions as we go through the week, Sabbath rest frees us to step back and consider the big picture. Like Samuel’s Ebenezer stone, it prompts us to remember: “Thus far the LORD has helped us” (1 Sam. 7:12, NKJV).

Then it turns our hearts toward the future. God created us for a greater end than endlessly repeating monotonous tasks. Our earthly work is under a limited contract, and the pause of Sabbath rest reorients us toward that final day when we’ll rest from all our labors (Rev. 14:13). Weekly, we stop to consider where we’ve been, and then, refreshed, we again set out toward that holy city where Christ is.

May God help us to honor Him with our speech and with our observations of the Sabbath. And may we find peace as we do so.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to honor You in our speech and in the way we schedule our time, keeping Your Sabbaths.  In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 20: 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Listening, the Israelites are likely shocked! “What’s wrong with idols?” they think. An internet search tells us: Ancient Egyptians worshipped a vast number of deities, with estimates ranging from several hundred to over 2,000 idols. This polytheistic belief system included gods and goddesses who represented various aspects of life, nature, and the cosmos. The exact number is difficult to determine due to the evolving nature of their religious practices and the many local variations in worship.

Not only are the Israelites used to the Egyptian pantheon of gods and goddesses, but they undoubtedly have all kinds of gold and silver shrines, amulets, idols, and jewelry their terrified Egyptian neighbors have given them as they have fled Egypt. Many Israelites are probably still worshiping some of the Egyptian gods, figuring “Why not? What’s wrong with a little extra protection?” Problem is, these folks don’t realize they are paying homage to demons, and demons never bring peace, only confusion and despair.

5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Of course, this statement is true, but why does God connect idol worship with ancestral curses going on for generations? Children copy their parents. When parents worship idols, they naturally dedicate their children to those same idols, with terrible consequences. Once so dedicated, those children will have to repeatedly struggle to gain their freedom. While there is more power in one drop of the Blood of Jesus than in all the forces of hell, such spiritual battles must be fought persistently. Those children will never know peace until they have been freed from the curses brought on by idol worship.

We knew a man in Ghana whose name meant “second.” While this man appeared to be a harmless charming businessman, he was actually a fetish worshiper involved in a very evil cult. We were forced to live on the ground floor of his house for several months. At around 2 AM, we would feel an evil presence descending through our ceiling from this man’s rooms. We would have to get up, pray, and play praise music about the blood of Jesus to drive away the evil. Eventually, we learned that this man’s mother had wanted a second son, so she had promised the fetish priest that if the fetish would grant her a son, she would dedicate that boy to the fetish from the womb. This man was our landlord, and the poor fellow had been dedicated to demons before his birth. Incidentally, the demons would only manifest themselves at certain times; fellow missionaries refused to believe our stories about this man, assuming that he was sweet and innocent.

We have another Ghanaian friend whose family name was that of a traditional fetish. This man was from a royal family, indicating that his ancestors were traditional chiefs. Chieftaincy requires those becoming chiefs to swear loyalty to a variety of fetishes. Despite this evil heritage, our friend is a vibrant Christian, a pastor, and the founder of a Christian school that has educated thousands of children for twenty-six years. This friend’s story demonstrates that freedom in Christ is possible. This man’s family and his students are blessed by his dedication to Jesus Christ.

God makes His truth clear: worship Him and bless your family for a thousand generations. Refuse to worship Him and bring curses on those same descendants.

Now those Israelites are standing in a crowd, listening to the Word of God that Moses has brought to them. Too bad, many of them are already modifying it or rejecting it mentally, assuming that what they learned back in Egypt is going to get them through.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to worship You only, truly and whole-heartedly, having no other gods before You, for then we shall have peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 20: 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Listening, the Israelites are likely shocked! “What’s wrong with idols?” they think. An internet search tells us: Ancient Egyptians worshipped a vast number of deities, with estimates ranging from several hundred to over 2,000 idols. This polytheistic belief system included gods and goddesses who represented various aspects of life, nature, and the cosmos. The exact number is difficult to determine due to the evolving nature of their religious practices and the many local variations in worship.

Not only are the Israelites used to the Egyptian pantheon of gods and goddesses, but they undoubtedly have all kinds of gold and silver shrines, amulets, idols, and jewelry their terrified Egyptian neighbors have given them as they have fled Egypt. Many Israelites are probably still worshiping some of the Egyptian gods, figuring “Why not? What’s wrong with a little extra protection?” Problem is, these folks don’t realize they are paying homage to demons, and demons never bring peace, only confusion and despair.

5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Of course, this statement is true, but why does God connect idol worship with ancestral curses going on for generations? Children copy their parents. When parents worship idols, they naturally dedicate their children to those same idols, with terrible consequences. Once so dedicated, those children will have to repeatedly struggle to gain their freedom. While there is more power in one drop of the Blood of Jesus than in all the forces of hell, such spiritual battles must be fought persistently. Those children will never know peace until they have been freed from the curses brought on by idol worship.

We knew a man in Ghana whose name meant “second.” While this man appeared to be a harmless charming businessman, he was actually a fetish worshiper involved in a very evil cult. We were forced to live on the ground floor of his house for several months. At around 2 AM, we would feel an evil presence descending through our ceiling from this man’s rooms. We would have to get up, pray, and play praise music about the blood of Jesus to drive away the evil. Eventually, we learned that this man’s mother had wanted a second son, so she had promised the fetish priest that if the fetish would grant her a son, she would dedicate that boy to the fetish from the womb. This man was our landlord, and the poor fellow had been dedicated to demons before his birth. Incidentally, the demons would only manifest themselves at certain times; fellow missionaries refused to believe our stories about this man, assuming that he was sweet and innocent.

We have another Ghanaian friend whose family name was that of a traditional fetish. This man was from a royal family, indicating that his ancestors were traditional chiefs. Chieftaincy requires those becoming chiefs to swear loyalty to a variety of fetishes. Despite this evil heritage, our friend is a vibrant Christian, a pastor, and the founder of a Christian school that has educated thousands of children for twenty-six years. This friend’s story demonstrates that freedom in Christ is possible. This man’s family and his students are blessed by his dedication to Jesus Christ.

God makes His truth clear: worship Him and bless your family for a thousand generations. Refuse to worship Him and bring curses on those same descendants.

Now those Israelites are standing in a crowd, listening to the Word of God that Moses has brought to them. Too bad, many of them are already modifying it or rejecting it mentally, assuming that what they learned back in Egypt is going to get them through.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to worship You only, truly and whole-heartedly, having no other gods before You, for then we shall have peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.