Ten Commandments - Small Gods

Greetings Dear Reader,

We have seen that the God who chooses to command also chooses to reach out to us.  What is it that drives him to this distinction among the things men choose to worship?  In this next command and really this is the first that is a direct command, he makes a simple declaration.

“Never have any other gods.” (GW)

This seems simple enough when one considers the calf and the many Egyptian deities that were supposed to have been left in the dust.  Sadly all these small gods created by men, demanded things that a true god would never demand.

While this statement seems an accurate translation there is a simpler one.  It may be that in calling them commandments we miss that God may be giving us deeper understanding of what the situation in the world is.

If we hear these words in their simplest rendering it may be that God is declaring, “No other gods exist in my presence.” (ATT)

This statement has much more power than to deny the presence of small gods.  In its simplicity it makes them moot.  God simply declares that they do not exist.  We worship so many things.  We chase after so many things that we think will fulfill us.  In truth the only thing that satisfies is that which is genuine. 

Anything that distracts me from following Christ as closely as possible becomes a god to me even if it is but for a moment.  The problem is that these temporary gods are vaporous and powerless.  They do not exist and they cannot satisfy.  Their only purpose is to distract me from Christ.  The only power they have is the power I give them to do this.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."