tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747867752017683527.post3109976870838617645..comments2023-07-30T02:34:04.488-07:00Comments on Cerebral Faith: Understanding The Second CommandmentEvan Mintonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849664329253455702noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747867752017683527.post-43929018895775133872018-06-25T09:23:31.152-07:002018-06-25T09:23:31.152-07:00In Numbers 21:4-9, Moses makes a bronze serpent on...In Numbers 21:4-9, Moses makes a bronze serpent on a stick to heal the Hebrews' snake bites, as per God's instructions. They don't worship it, but they are to look at it in order to live. Isn't this sort of like an idol, or a graven image? <br /><br />The bronze snake on the pole was something God instructed the Israelites to make in order to represent the serpents who were sent by Him to inflict Israel with death. Putting a snake on the pole was representative of killing it. That is why Jesus used this as a picture of his own sacrifice in John 3:14,15: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” <br /><br />The lifted up snake died so the Israelites would not have to. If they put their trust in that they would be healed. The lifted up Jesus died so we would not have to. If we put our trust in Him (look to Him) we will be forgiven.<br /><br />Over time, the serpent came to be worshipped and given offerings to. So King Hezekiah destroyed the serpent. <br /><br />In 2 Kings 18:4 " He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)<br /><br />This strongly seems to suggest the bronze serpent was only to be looked upon, not worshipped. It seems that what Moses made was good in what was intended by God, but later on the Israelites worshipped it like an idol and was therefore destroyed by King Hezekiah.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08727516114871430431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747867752017683527.post-73797821451217001442018-06-25T09:22:57.205-07:002018-06-25T09:22:57.205-07:00If making images of any heavenly object is wrong, ...If making images of any heavenly object is wrong, then why did God command Moses to make some on the ark of the covenant?<br /><br />The prohibition against making graven images was distinctly set in the context of worshiping idols. There are, then, several reasons why making the cherubim does not conflict with this command not to bow down to graven images.<br /><br /> First, there was no chance that the people of Israel would fall down before the cherubim in the most holy place (1 Kings 8:6-9), since they were forbidden to go in the holy place at any time. Even the high priest went only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16).<br /><br />Further, the prohibition is not against making any carved image for decorative purposes, but of those used in religious worship. In other words, they were not to worship any other God or any image of any god. These cherubim were not given to Israel as images of God; they were angels. Nor were they given to be worshiped. Hence, there is no way in which the command to make them violated the commandment in Exodus 20.<br /><br />Finally, the prohibition in Exodus 20 is not against religious art as such, which includes things in heaven (angels) and on earth (humans or animals). Rather, it was against using any image as an idol. That idolatry envisioned is evident from the fact they were instructed not to “bow down to them nor serve them” (Ex. 20:5). The distinction between non-religious use of images and a religious use is important:<br /><br />THE USE OF IMAGES OR REPRESENTATIONS OF GOD<br /><br />Even language about God in the Bible contains images. God is both a shepherd and a father. But each of these is appropriately qualified. God is not just any father. He is our Heavenly Father. Likewise, Jesus is not just any shepherd, but the Good Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep (John 10:11). No finite image can be appropriately applied to the infinite God without qualification. To do so is idolatry. And idols are idols whether they are mental or metal.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08727516114871430431noreply@blogger.com