Honoring God and Not His Gifts

Scripture: He [Hezekiah] did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his ancestor David had done. He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made, for the Israelites burned incense to it up to that time. He called it Nehushtan. Hezekiah trusted in the Lord God of Israel; not one of the kings of Judah was like him, either before him or after him. 2 Kings 18:3-5

Observation: As the kings of Judah continue back and forth in their obedience to God, Hezekiah is a special king. His obedience rises to the level of David. However, he goes one step further ... he destroys the bronze snake of Moses. This was a snake made in the wilderness during a time when the Israelites were grumbling against God, and God has sent a plague of poisonous snakes into their camp. Looking upon the snake could heal them of the poison.

The fact the snake still existed is new information in the narrative of Israel, and the fact they were burning incense to it is troubling. It was not listed an as item to go into the tent of meeting, nor is it included as part of Solomon's temple. Where and how this honor and worship toward this item is done is not previously stated. It was always a disturbing thing - a cast image of an animal upon which God had ordered a certain level of trust to be given to it. However, that was always intended for just one time, during the plague in the wilderness. It is unclear when the bronze snake received an elevated position within Judah, but Hezekiah is the first to recognize it for the sin it has caused and purge it along with the Asherah poles, high places, and other practices.

Application: God does create special items from time to time to help us with our faith. However, they are not themselves to ever replace God. Any meaning or honor placed upon them must be honor to God, not the item. This includes events and places. When I prayed for direction related to this summer, and received clear signs ... those signs must not become honored things, but rather acknowledged to be of the Lord.

This is another way that things can become idols - when things "of God" are given independent honor. This is a trap to keep my eyes open for.

Prayer: Lord, you have richly blessed my family. May I never look upon your blessings as things to be independently honored or worshiped. I see you in all elements of my life, Lord. I seek to honor you alone in all those things. Amen.