Deuteronomy 5
The Uncontainable God
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. — Deuteronomy 5:8
Deuteronomy 5:8
Observation
Moses reminds Israel of the covenant God made with them directly, not just with their ancestors. He re-states the Ten Commandments, beginning with God's unique identity as their rescuer from Egypt (Deut 5:6). The command against idols is sweeping and absolute: do not represent God with anything He has created. It forbids reducing the infinite Creator to the form of a bird from the sky, a beast from the land, or a fish from the sea. This protects God's holy otherness; He is the Maker, not one of the things that are made.
Reflection
Your heart still tries to craft a god you can handle. You may not bow to a wooden statue, but you can easily worship a concept of God that fits your politics, your preferences, or your comfort. The human heart is a factory of idols. This command calls you to lay down your preferred images and worship the true God who has revealed Himself, the God who cannot be contained in your mind any more than He can be in a block of stone. In what area of your life are you worshipping a smaller, more convenient version of God?
Sit With This
Refuse to worship any version of God that you yourself have created.
Prayer
Father, forgive me for trying to shrink you into a form I can understand or use. Demolish the idols in my heart and help me to worship you as you truly are. I want to love you, not an idea of you. Amen.
Did You Know?
This absolute prohibition against images was a radical departure from every surrounding ancient culture, whose temples and homes were filled with idols representing their various gods.
Further Reading