1st Kings 12, part 2: Idolatry of the ego

Idols are actually as prevalent in modern times as they were back in the days of Rehoboam and Yeroboam (Jeroboam). Bowing down to a statue as a representation of a divine is not as common in our world, but what is common is spiritual idolatry — the core of physical idolatry.

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If God spends the time to tell us something, it’s incumbent on us to figure out why. The record of the golden calf Yeroboam ordered created has more parallels with the account of the golden calf in Exodus 32 than one might imagine. They are thematically tied, they deal with same subject, in the same way with the same results.

Here are the parallels between the account of the idolatrous rebellion of the northern kingdom and the rebellion of Israel at Sinai while Moshe was receiving the 10 Commandments:

Aaron = Yeroboam
Moses = Rehoboam
Created Feast = Created Feast
Calf = Calf
“Out of Egypt” = “Out of Egypt”

God tells Moses in Ex. 32:7 that the people have “corrupted themselves.” Aaron affirms or reaffirms God’s assertion that the people of Israel were stiff-necked and rebellious. God doesn’t really blame Aaron for this, even though Aaron is the one who actually organized the building of the golden calves. Moses, on the other hand, did blame Aaron for not restraining the people.

Physical idol worship is only a small part of idolatry. It’s driven by fear: fear of the future, of what you don’t know. The question is that when someone is in adversity and need, who do they turn to for protection and comfort?

Adam and Eve acted in fear when they ate the fruit. They feared that they didn’t know enough about their future. They had even more fear after their realized what the fruit really brought them.

When Herod had Yokhanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) executed, he was operating in fear: fear of his audience and fear of his wife.

Haman was operating in fear of Mordechai and conspired to kill Mordechai and all of Mordechai’s people.

Moses believed he had the authority to kill the Egyptian and acted in fear.

Baalam was an obvious idol worshipper and he is the key in understanding what idol all these other men were worshipping and it was not the Creator.

The first two times that Baalam is sent to curse Israel he went to God first but the third time, Baalam doesn’t go to God, he speaks of his own. Num. 24:1-4 shows us that Baalam worships himself. He believed in God, even spoke with God but he did not worship God. Idolatry focuses on the self. Idolatry is self-worship.

Adam and Eve wanted to elevate themselves to God’s level in wisdom.

Herod killed Yokhanan to avoid self-effacement. He didn’t want the guests to assume he didn’t keep his word or look bad in their eyes.

Joshua uses his own judgement on evaluating the Gibeonites’ claim to be from a distant land, rather than going to God and asking Him.

Haman wanted to elevate himself up to status of the king of Persia and Mordechai’s refusal got in the way of Haman’s self-delusion and had to be eliminated.

Moses is about 40 years old when he confronts the Egyptian who was beating the Hebrew slave. In killing the Egytpian, he was putting himself in authority over the Egyptian and the Hebrews that God did not give him.

All of them operated in their own will and purpose, not in God’s will and purpose. How do we bow down to ourselves. No one likes to be wrong, to make mistakes, to be corrected. We enjoy flattery, compliments. We want to be noticed for our accomplishments. Instead of giving God the glory, we take it for ourselves.

People are naturally self-oriented. How many of us can say we actually love our neighbor as ourselves. The more educated we are, the more easily we fall into this trap, as well.

God’s biggest problem with idol worship is us. It’s based in pride and fear. God is holy and perfect because He constantly gives and gives to us, even though we don’t give him credit and no gratitude. Women learn in childrearing that you give and give with little thanks. Men learn in working their entire lives that they are to take care of others, not just themselves.

Speaker: Daniel Agee. Summary: Tammy.