Exodus 23:20–33 “The Reason for Idolatry”

Exodus 23:20-33 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• No Other Name – Hillsong Worship
• HILLSONG WORSHIP – Christ Is Enough
• Give Me Jesus | Jeremy Camp
• Clear the Stage

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• What is idolatry? CQ Kids – Lesson for Kids
• King of Me – Rend Co. Kids – Song for Kids
• Jump by Go Kids performed by Grace Chapel Kids – Song for Kids
• Only A God Like You – Lifeway VBS – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth arelocated in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

After giving various instructions, God says, “I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared” (v. 20). He then sternly commands the people to obey the angel’s voice (v. 21). This angel will lead the Israelites into the land of Canaan and drive out its inhabitants (vv. 22–23). The statement, “I will completely destroy them,” may cause one to question God’s justice. However, it was not that God wiped out innocent Canaanites for the sake of the Israelites. Rather, the Canaanites had filled the measure of their sins, and God was bringing judgment upon them.

When the Israelites enter the land of Canaan, they must remove all the shrines and idols left behind and worship only God (vv. 24–26). The reason God commands them to worship Him alone is for the sake of the Israelites themselves. There is only one God in this world who truly loves humanity and desires their blessing. All other gods are idols. The moment a person serves an idol; they become a slave and captive to that false god. This is why God introduces Himself as “a jealous God” (20:5) and demands exclusive loyalty.

God says He will send His “awe” (v. 27) ahead of them to scatter all the peoples, and also that He will send “hornets” (v. 28). The hornets are a metaphor for God’s awe-inspiring presence. Just as people scatter in panic when hornets fly around them, so will the foreign nations be thrown into confusion when God’s majesty goes before the Israelites. After that, the Israelites will gradually occupy the land of Canaan (vv. 29–31). Once they enter the land, the Israelites must not make any treaties or alliances with the Canaanites or their gods. If they do, they will fall into idolatry, and it will become “a snare to you” (v. 33).

Meditation:

Human sinfulness is often revealed in our tendency to seek substitutes and find false satisfaction in them. One example is the desire for personal, relational love being replaced by sensory pleasure. Sensory pleasure is self-centered—something that can be quickly gained and just as easily discarded. In contrast, personal love is self-transcending (other-centered) and can only be attained through lasting patience and commitment. Yet we often choose sensory pleasure over true, personal love.

The reason we fall into idolatry is much the same. To believe in the living God means we must surrender ourselves before Him. We must deny our own interests, comforts, and will in order to follow God’s will. When we come to know who God truly is, such surrender becomes a natural response. Since He is the one and only God of the entire universe, those who truly know Him cannot serve any other god.

This is not because God has a “possessive need for love.” God does not require our love or devotion—He is complete and full in Himself. The reason God demands our exclusive devotion is because it is what is most beneficial for us. There is no being greater than humanity except God, and only God can truly make human beings free and blessed.

Even though we may know this truth, we still turn our eyes toward idols—because we do not want to give up ourselves. We long for something that will justify our sinful desires and help fulfill them. We seek a god we can control, a god who will not interfere with how we choose to live yet will keep us from harm and bring us blessings.

That is why the Israelites, even after experiencing the amazing works of God and knowing who He was, still fell into the sin of idolatry when they entered the land of Canaan. As a result, they met the same fate as the native Canaanites—the land “vomited them out.”

Today, we live in an age of atheism. With the advancement of material civilization, humanity no longer feels the need for God. Theories that deny God’s existence have become more sophisticated than ever. And yet, shamanism and occult practices are flourishing like never before. People today are repeating the exact same mistakes the Israelites made in the land of Canaan. Truly, the human condition seems beyond saving.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank You for allowing us to live as foreigners in this age of unbelief. Have mercy on our generation, which has grown so proud because of scientific knowledge and material progress. Let us be Your faithful remnant in this time, living to reveal Your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God wants us to worship Him alone, not because He needs our love, but because He knows that only in Him can we find true freedom, blessing, and life. When we turn to idols or anything that replaces God in our hearts, we end up being trapped and hurt. God invites us to trust Him fully, even when the world tells us not to.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • What does it mean to worship only God? Why do you think God wants us to do that?
  • Can you think of anything (a toy, show, friend, or game) that you love so much that it sometimes takes your heart away from God?
  • How do you think God feels when we choose to follow Him even when it’s hard?
    
• For Youth
  • Why do you think people today often reject God but still turn to things like superstitions, luck, or fame?
  • What are some “modern idols” (things people trust more than God) you see in school or online?
  • What does it mean for you personally to be part of God’s “remnant”—those who stay faithful in a world that often forgets Him?