The Problem of Idolatry

The Problem of Idolatry(Isaiah 44:9)

Underlying Issues with Idolatry

• Divided Loyalty (1 Kings 18:21; Joshua 24:15)

• Who or what has power in a given realm? (1 Kings 20:28; Prov. 10:15)

• Do I love God, or do I just like God but love something else? (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

The LORD Shows Us ThatThe Idols Are Nothing

In Egypt Through The PlaguesExodus 7:14 - 12:30

Against All the gods of Egypt• The plagues of Egypt were designed to

show God’s superiority over their idols (Exodus 12:12)

• For example, changing the water of the Nile to blood showed the showed God’s superiority to Khnum, Hapi & Osiris. (Exodus 7:14-25)

The LORD Shows Us ThatThe Idols Are Nothing

In Egypt Through The PlaguesExodus 7:14 - 12:30

In Israel By His Victory Over Baal1 Kings 17:1; 18:20-46

In Isaiah Through ProphecyIsaiah 41:21-24; 44:6, 9-20

“Shall I fall down before a block of wood?“ Isaiah 44:19

Do We Still Fall Down Before Idols?Colossians 3:5; Matthew 6:24

Shall I Fall Down Before Work?

Shall I Fall DownBefore Sports & Recreation

Shall I Fall DownBefore My Possessions?

God is Against all Other gods• In America, have we made our God-given

freedoms into gods themselves? God is against the perversion of freedoms…– Greed and corruption as free enterprise– Abortion as free choice– Sexual perversion as the pursuit of

happiness.• Against the love of riches and pleasure

(James 5:1-5; Proverbs 23:4-5)