Lesson Five

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT (II)

DO NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELF A CARVED IMAGE
(Exo. 20:4-6; 32:1-35; Josh. 24:19-20)

Burden to Impart:

The Lord God is both the Creator and the Savior of His people. He alone is worthy of our worship and service. He alone is worthy of our love. All images, pictures statues objects, charms, or pendants that are supposedly related to Him are actually idols. God hates everything of idolatry and will not tolerate idolatry. We also should hate and reject anything of idolatry.

Memory Verse:

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image...for I the Lord your God am a jealous God" (Exodus 20:4a, 5).

Facts to Teach:

  1. Our God is real, loving, and jealous. He created us, He alone can save us, and He alone should be our God. He will not tolerate anything made by men's hands to "represent" Him; because God knows how men are--eventually the image would replace God altogether.
  2. An idol is any kind of image, carving, statue, painting, photograph, charm or pendant that is supposed to be related to God or to represent God. People like these kinds of objects and jewelry because they trust in them and feel safer or more secure by having them. They feel that these objects (which are really idols) make God nearer or more real to them and trust in them for "good luck."
  3. However, all of this is not true and is just superstition. This is just the Devil's deceit. The Devil is lying and cheating people to keep them from.. knowing the real, living, and loving God whom they alone should honor, serve, and love with all their heart.
  4. Though we cannot see God with our eyes, we believe He is with us. He hears us when we pray and He watches over us all the day.
  5. Because our God is real and He loves us, He is jealous over us. He hates everything that would replace Him. No husband would allow Ills wife to place the picture of another man in his house or even to have it in her wallet. Our love must be for God alone.
  6. God demands that all idols be put away, burned, or crushed. In His Word (Josh. 24:19-20) He warns us not to serve foreign gods. If we honor idols we hate God. To reject idols is to love God and receive mercy (Ezo. 20:6).[Point 7 may be taught for enrichment if time allows.]
  7. In Exodus 32 we see God's anger when the children of Israel insulted Him by worshipping two golden calves. They even went so far as to say: "These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." God commanded all those who were on His side to take their sword and kill all Those who worshipped the idols. This was a most serious sin and brought forth God's anger and judgment.