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Don't You Dare Do That! - Deut 4:15-31

Our God is omniscient. Which is a fancy word for "He Knows Everything." There is nothing that he does not know and no scenario or possibility that he hasn't always known. Did you know that? 


Trying to wrap our puny minds around such grandeur is impossible. We are the opposite of omniscient, which is finite. I have trouble remembering which daughter I'm talking to, and all of their names start with the letter A. 


Moses wrote Deuteronomy 4 at Mount Sinai, a mere forty years before his current family chat. However, a lot had transpired over those years, and Moses is having a family chat just before going into Disney World. "Come here, kids! If we get separated, DON'T go with strangers!! Do you hear me?" I know that you parents have had these chats. 


Well, ok, it's not Disney. But it was going to be really cool! 


These hard-headed kids were to listen up and understand what was being said. Never ever, no not once, make an image of something to call your God! Do you hear me?! 


There was no beating around the bush here. God said, "You didn't see me when I talked to you. And that was for a purpose. The purpose being, if you did see me, you would be tempted to make a replica of me and set it on your dashboard. You'd put it in your pocket or hang it around your neck so that I'd always be near your heart. 


That sounds like such a good thing to do. Being spiritual and all. It's Not. Don't do it. 


However, I will be merciful, when you do, realize that, after a long time, when you or your children come to their senses and want to come back to me. 


(Famous verse alert) Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress, and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.

 

(though we usually skip verse 30) 


God was telling the future. These people would go into the Promised Land, take over and quickly forget God. WHAT? How stupid could they be? 


Excuse me, but you do the same thing. When things are not going well, you cry out to God for help. Then when he gives that help, you forget to tell him thank you. You fail to give him all of the glory for your conquests. You don't remember that it was he who opened that impossible door and provided that miracle. You may not sculpt idols from wood or stone. But you become your hero. Don't you dare do that because our God is a consuming fire. 

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