“Why do the nations say,

    ‘Where is their God?’

Our God is in heaven;

    he does whatever pleases him.

But their idols are silver and gold,

    made by human hands.

They have mouths, but cannot speak,

    eyes, but cannot see.

They have ears, but cannot hear,

    noses, but cannot smell.

They have hands, but cannot feel,

    feet, but cannot walk,

    nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

Those who make them will be like them,

    and so will all who trust in them.“
Psalm 115:2-8

–

 

Growing up in church, I heard and read many Bible stories and passages many times. My husband, on the other hand, did not grow up in church, but came to faith after college. We are currently reading through the Old Testament together, and it has been fun (and sometimes funny) to see his reactions to some of the stories and passages he is not familiar with. So many of the stories hit a little differently as an adult—especially when you’ve never read them before.

One thing that stands out now is the repetitive cycle Israel demonstrates throughout much of the Old Testament. They left the Lord for idols, prompting God to carry out His holy judgment as He warned them He would. Suffering led Israel to repentance, and at the right time, God delivered them. This story unfolds over and over, and somewhere along the fifth iteration or so, you might find yourself thinking that these people aren’t very bright. After all, why would anyone forsake a living God for worthless idols made of stone, wood, or metal?

But the truth is that most of us behave exactly the same way; we’re still carrying out the cycle generation after generation. Sure, our idols might not be carved statues, but we put our trust in things that are just as foolish. We look to money for security, our careers for identity, relationships for fulfillment. The list goes on and on.

None of these things can provide what we long for. They may give us a temporary illusion of power, security, and fulfillment, but only our sovereign God is actually in control of every situation and need we face.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • What idols do you tend to turn to?
  • Is there an area of your life where you notice a tendency to trust in something other than God?
  • Why is God our only true hope?

Church Reading Plan: Isaiah 52; Revelation 22