Moses reminds the Israelites that God is Spirit. He does that by recalling the fact that when God visited Moses on the mountain at Horeb, He did not have a shape or figure, but was simply a voice speaking out of the fire. In light of this image of God, Moses warns the people against idolatry. They were not to make an image of any creature, nor worship the stars, moon, or sun. They were to simply worship the God who brought them out of Egypt. They were to worship God, and obey His command to take the land.
Even if they worship idols, then they will be punished, driven from the land, and scattered, but when they return to God, they will be forgiven and restored. The motivation for not serving idols, though, should be the fact that God loved Israel, and that they were taken from among another nation to be redeemed and set free.
After his discussion with Israel, Moses set apart three cities on the east of the Jordan River as Cities of Refuge. so that the unintentional manslayer could find a hiding place when he was not guilty. The cities were Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan.
There are many things we idolize: leaders, athletes, actors, musicians, lovers, children, etc. We must remember who redeemed us, who saved us and healed us. If we keep the blessings of God in the forefront of out minds, then God will be our source and strength, our object of worship, rather than the created. God is not created, but is. The creation can never be God. Don’t let the creation rise to that level in your life. God is God and nothing else is God!
Devoted To You 