Imago Dei (image of God)
In my recent studies I have been exploring the issue of
God’s directive to the fledgling nation of Israel not to make an image, or an
idol to worship (Deuteronomy 4:16). The context of the statement was not simply
that the young nation was about to enter the land of Canaan where pagan
idolatry was prevalent, but also the Israelites had in their recent history
experienced God’ power and had heard Yahweh speaking to them out of the fire
(4:12) when He gave them the ten commandments.
What struck me about this incident was that the pagan
religions in the land of Canaan had gods they could see (their idols) which
contributed nothing to their spiritual, moral, cultural or social wellbeing. In
fact the worship of these “gods” led the Canaanites into depravity and
darkness. They had a god they could see but these gods offered them nothing
meaningful for their lives. On the other hand, Yahweh revealed Himself not
visually (as in showing His form or image) but rather audibly, by speaking His
Word to His people. The connection is powerfully evident in vv15-16a, “You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord
spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very
carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol,
an image of any shape…” God spoke
out of His infinite wisdom and grace to these people to reveal to them the
pathway of life.
The Canaanite deities were based on sexual rituals of
fertility and the like which drew the worshippers into adulterous practices
seemingly imitating their gods. But Yahweh told the Israelites how they were to
follow God’s ways so they could be an example of His wisdom and goodness. In
fact God has that plan for all humanity given He has created man “in His own
image…” (Gen 1:27)
The danger of making idols is we allow godless values and
darkness (even originating in our own hearts) become the values that govern how
we live our lives. But when we acknowledge that God intends us to carry His
image by walking in His ways and being obedient to the Word He has spoken, our
lives become purposeful and we reveal to those around us the wisdom and
goodness of God.
Ephesians 5:1 tells us to be “imitators of God” but to do
that we need to resist the temptation to model our lives on the many
temptations being offered to us. We can easily become ensnared by the treasures
that we have conjured up in our hearts that offer pleasure and fulfilment. But
only when we set apart Jesus Christ as Lord and seek to make Him the treasure of
our hearts, will we fulfil our God given role of bearing the image of the one
true and living God.
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