Jeremiah

Chapter 10:11-16 (ESV) - Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”

It is he who made the earth by his power,
    who established the world by his wisdom,
    and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,
    and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain,
    and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
Every man is stupid and without knowledge;
    every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,
for his images are false,
    and there is no breath in them.
They are worthless, a work of delusion;
    at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,
    for he is the one who formed all things,
and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;
    the LORD of hosts is his name.

Question to consider: Why did the LORD command Israel not to make any kind of image of Him to worship?

For its idolatry, the LORD had systematically rescinded the blessings He gave to Israel when He delivered them from Egypt. These gods which Israel chose over Him would also perish from the earth just as He proclaimed in Egypt, “on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.” (Exodus 12:12)

Unlike the false gods who had no hand in creating the heavens and the earth, the LORD spoke through Jeremiah with language similar to His discourse with Job, describing the wonders of our universe which are under His sovereign hand. Even if we have a scientific understanding of how rain occurs or lightning is formed, we can’t begin to fathom the depths of the God who established the necessary atmosphere to make these things come about. Describing them poetically in this fashion helps emphasize the wonderous power of God. We may think we are smart, but we are stupid and without knowledge.

Even if a goldsmith were to try and fashion an idol to represent the LORD, it would be false, for like the pagan idols, there would be no breath in it. The image of the true God would have breath and was the one who formed all things. I would argue that the One who is the portion of Jacob and who made Israel the tribe of God’s inheritance is Christ Jesus. He is the LORD of hosts and rules from on high, and yet He took the form of a servant and was obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

Without Christ, Israel could never be the tribe of God’s inheritance, for Christ was the only one who perfectly kept the commands of God. We are grafted into this inheritance because Christ has given His righteousness to us by faith, making us children of God.

Prayer

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for sending Christ who is the breath of life and Your physical image in the world. Now that we are clothed with His righteousness, help us to grow into that righteousness and desire those things that bring life and salvation. Amen.