Foreign gods

Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land that you are going to enter; otherwise they will become a snare among you. Instead you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, and chop down their Asherah poles. You are to never bow down to another god because Yahweh, being jealous by nature, is a jealous God.

Do not make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land, or else when they prostitute themselves with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. Then you will take some of their daughters as brides for your sons. Their daughters will prostitute themselves with their gods and cause your sons to prostitute themselves with their gods. Do not cast images of gods for yourselves. Exodus 34:12-17

The phrase 'jealous by nature' can be translated 'Yahweh jealous His name'; 'His name is jealous' or Yahweh is jealous for His name.' Anyway you look at it it implies that there is a close connection between traits of character and concept of name or representation.* [* taken from HCSB study bible notes]

We are told elsewhere that God holds His word above His name, but that at the name of Jesus every knee would bow. We have a God of intense love, integrity and faithfulness. He is totally white, no shadow, totally all in.

God knows that as we make relationships with those with foreign gods the temptation will be to join them. In our modern day of atheism we see westerners who comes from a Christian root, take to Buddha, other Eastern religions and more recently the Moslem faith. The love for God has grown cold and the love for self is now pre-eminent. As we go through scripture we see that God's people gradually slide away from Him and do indeed 'prostitute' themselves with foreign gods.

I have Indian neighbours who have had parents arrange their marriage. They come from a pure culture and are now living in Australia. It will come to pass that their children will grow up in a Western culture and want the western way. How will they prevail?

In Australian we have a growing divide. We have those who no longer will call Christmas 'Christmas', so as to not offend our non-Christian new Australians and those who resent this watering down of the Christian ethic. A former prime minister, Mr John Howard, went on record saying: ' you are welcome to come to Australia and make it your home, but we have a Christian faith and we will not change to accommodate you, you come knowing this.' (Wording mine)

As Christians we reach out to other cultures to share the gospel, that is why missionaries go out. We must be strong in our faith to do this, otherwise we will be overcome.

Christianity is the only religion that worships the One true God, is full of power to change an individual and miracles of faith. In the Old Testament there was only One God, Yahweh. He demonstrated His power and faithfulness to His people. Why was that not enough? Because sin reigned in their mortal bodies. Is Christ enough? He is if I make Him my all, allow Him to rule and reign and take my hands off the controls.

Just as Yahweh was willing to show His greatness to those who sought Him with all their hearts so is Christ willing, ready and willing. Amen!