What are idols? Webster defines idols as: "(1) a representation or symbol of an object of worship; broadly: a false god (2) a: a likeness of something b: pretender, impostor (3) a form or appearance visible but without substance (4) an object of extreme devotion (5) a false conception." The first use of the word "idol" or "idols" is recorded in Leviticus 19:4. The word translated "idol" (eliyl) is a word that "comes from a root meaning ‘to be weak, deficient.’ It is used primarily to describe vain objects of worship (Isa. 2:8), but may describe anything worthless, empty, or vain (I Chron. 16:26)." Another word which is translated idol (gilluwl) "means roller, log, trunks, blocks, idols. The Biblical writers used the term derisively; the pagans were worshipping silly, dead beams of wood (Lev. 26:30; Deut. 29:16; I Kings 21:26; II Kings 17:12; 21:21)." This is one of ten basic words for an idol in the Hebrew Old Testament. "The prophets scorned physical idols by declaring that the material object itself was the god of the pagan sculptor." Idols, then, represent things that are empty or worthless. Other Hebrew words which have been translated as "idol" or "idols" carry with them the meaning of: "vanity," "iniquity," "wickedness," "sorrow," "shame" or "shameful thing," "horror" or "terror," etc.

Where did idol worship (Idolatry) have its beginning? Men seem to desire to see the object of their worship. The Cherubim that was first placed east of the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:24), seems to find a parallel in the religious insignia of Assyria, Egypt, and

If idol worship had it beginning with man before the flood, what happened after the flood? Noah found grace in the eyes of the

Lord (Gen. 6:8). Noah and his family were the only eight people saved by the flood (I Peter 3:20,21). They were doing as God commanded them. So, then, when did idol worship began after the flood? At the time (1921 B.C.) Abram left Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan, idols were being worshipped (Gen.11:31; Acts 7:1-5). Joshua wrote, "And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods" (Joshua 24:2).. Therefore, sometime between the time of the flood and the time of Abram leaving Ur idol worship had it beginning. It is possible that the building of the tower of Babel refers to idol worship (Gen. 11:4). Nimrod (Gen. 10:9,10) may have been elevated to Marduk, god of the Babylonians.

Thus the worship of idols (idolatry) had its beginning very early in the history of man. But what is known of the idols of the Pentateuch? What does God say concerning man’s worshipping idols? Not many idols are mentioned by name in the Pentateuch but the people that worshipped these false gods are mentioned. God’s people were assoicated with the Babylonians, Egyptians, Canaanites, Moabites, Ammonites, etc.

What does God think of idolatry? Cain did not offer the proper sacrifice to God (Gen. 4:3-5). As God was not pleased with Cain and his sacrifice, He is not pleased with any form of idolatry. When God’s children attempted to build a tower to heaven, God was not pleased with them (Gen. 11:1-9). God confounded their language and thus they were scattered abroad (Gen. 11:7-8). When God called Abram, He called him out of Ur of the Chaldees, an idolatrous land (Gen. 12:1-3; Joshua 24:2; Acts 7:1-5). God commanded Jacob to go to Bethel and dwell there, and make an altar unto God (Gen. 35:1). Jacob, then, commanded his house-hold to put away the foreign gods that were among them (Gen. 35:2-4). After God led the children of Israel out of Egypt, He said, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:4). While God was giving these commands to Moses, What were the people doing? They were worshipping a golden calf, which Aaron had made for them (Exodus 32:1-6). God was so angry with them that He was going to destroy them (Exodus 32:7-10). Moses besought God on behalf of the people and God did not destroy them but He did punish them (Exodus 32:30). The first use of the word "idol" carries with it a command not to turn unto them (Lev. 19:4). Over and over God warns His children not to follow gods of the nations round about them (Exodus 20:3; 23:24,33; 34:17; Lev. 19:4; Deut. 5:7; 6:14; 7:16; 12:30). After God gave the children of Israel the promised land, He warned them about worshipping the gods of the people around them (Deut. 28:1,15). Because the children of God did not obey His commandments they lost the land that God had given them. One of the commandments they did not keep was the one concerning idolatry.

Larry Powers