Idols and false gods have been a plague to mankind throughout our entire history. These false deities seek to replace in our lives the place only the true God should have, and they always cater to the appetites of the flesh producing all kinds of demonic bondage.
In scripture, we see the subtle influence false god’s began to have in Israel among God’s covenant people. The three primary ones are identified in 1 Kings 11:33:
“Because they have forsaken Me and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in My ways, to do what is right in My sight…”
In brief study, I’ve found the following insights in regard to these three idols:
- Ashtoreth – the false goddess of love and increase
- Chemosh – the false god of power
- Milcom/Molech – the false god of protection
The worship of these three particular idols, form which spawn all others, produced terrible consequences. One of which is identified in the preceding verses of the above scripture; national destruction. In other words, nations were destroyed because of the worship of these three false gods.
Today, false gods and idolatry are still destroying nations. Though these false deities are disguised in various forms, the bend toward them is evident throughout society. Man seeks after love, sexual pleasure and material increase in worship of Ashtoreth, man seeks after power and political might in worship of Chemosh, and man seeks worldly security and protection just as men of old worship Milcom.
Worshipping idols comes with a terrible price tag because Satan seeks to steel, kill and destroy. Only in worship to the true God will we ever experience the fulfillment that Satan offers in deceit. Love, power, and protection are available, but only the true God of heaven and earth can supply them.
Remember: an idol is anything that takes the place of God in our lives, and idols cannot – must not be tolerated.