The gods we make

Today: Exodus 30-32

The chapters in today's passage raised an interesting question: Why do people worship gods they make?

It seemed really weird that Aaron built a golden calf and all of the sudden, the Israelites thought it was a god. Don't get me wrong--I've seen precious metals worth salivating over (hello, Tiffany!). But the last time I walked by Tiffany, Ben Bridge, and The Shane Company, I didn't see lines of people bowing before the windows in worship. No one was singing the praises of platinum. No one was praying to an engagement ring (notice that I said "to"...I'm sure some of those girls were praying "for" a ring!).

Today, most of us don't worship gods we make...or do we?

Yes, there are people who still worship statues. Some worship paper gods (most frequently, a god called money). But there are even more people who worship man-made ideas. Some worship other people (have you ever seen one of those Twilight premieres?). Others worship their kids, themselves, or their jobs. Frankly, it's pretty easy to find people who worship gods they make...and perhaps I've even done it myself at moments.

If you saw me praying and bowing at a Tiffany window, you'd think I was crazy. It's goofy to worship a god someone made. Though jewelry may be beautiful--and valuable--it's not inherently sacred. Neither are our ideas, paper, tasks or peers. God is God for many reasons. One of those reasons is because He supersedes human beings and even this planet. He's all-powerful, all-knowing and eternal--characteristics that compare to no person or thing. You can't make God because He made and loved you first.

Tomorrow: Exodus 33-35