Idolatry

You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

John, in his old age, wrote this in 1 John 5:21: “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”

“Tangible sources can satisfy my needs much better than an intangible source.”

Journal Entry, Age 19
All day yesterday I could feel myself looking for things to fill something in me. I was consciously aware of how I was craving everything: cookies, a cigarette, company, male company, icecream, wanting something tangible now. I looked for the easy way out again. I was very aware that I was keeping my gaze down, instead of looking up and seeing that Jesus was right there, wanting to show me His love, and show me that He is infinitely capable to fill and satisfy and be my desire.

“God can meet my needs?!” I had no idea what that meant or how that worked. And the waiting period? I wanted to just roll over and see He is there whenever I want. That’s what I imagined marriage to be too. Someone physical, always there to meet my needs whenever I need. And when I didn’t see God come for me in the timing or way I wanted, I settled for meeting my needs my own way.

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us.”
...He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” Exodus 32:1b, 4

With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction.
...This calf – a craftsman has made it; it is not God. Hosea 8:4b, 6a

Wait for your God always. Hosea 12:6b

“Nothing is better.”

I gradually began to believe that affection from men, sexual pleasure, comfort and security imagined to be found through sex were better than anything God could give me.

Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols. Hosea 5:11

She said, “I will go after my lovers, who give me my food and my water, my wool and my linen, my olive oil and my drink.” Hosea 2:5b

Loved amidst idolatry.

The Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods. Hosea 3:1b

I long to redeem them. Hosea 7:13b

My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. Hosea 11:8b