Genesis 31:34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them. Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing.
Hidden idols leave a wide open door for the enemy to hurt our family, health and our wellbeing. “Idolatry is the worship of someone or something other than God as though it were God”. Giving a person or a possession ‘the place of God’ is idolatry. It is like a ticking time bomb that will blast at some point and cause much destruction.
Rachel’s father Laban was an idol worshipper. Rachel stole some of his household gods (commonly used idols in her country), from her father’s house. When Laban came chasing after Jacob and his horde, Rachel hid the idols in the woolen canvas of her camel’s saddle that is placed behind the camel’s hump and she sat on it. She pretended that she was unwell with her monthly sickness and refused to move. She not only stole the idols but also lied about her sickness and deceived her own father. Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I’m having my period.” So he searched but could not find the household gods. (vs 35). We see that the hidden idols took her life not long after. She died an early death during child birth of her second son Benjamin. Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. As she breathed her last—for she was dying (Genesis 35:16b & 18a).
Another definition for idolatry is “anything we love, desire, serve and trust”. What we love will start controlling our thoughts, words and behaviour. It is important to enjoy our profession but if work controls our time and thoughts, even after working hours, it becomes an idol. Likewise, if our love for our family or friends supersede the reverential fear of God and wheel our behaviour, they become “idols”. “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). ‘God hates idolatry’.
Beware of the hidden idols:
1. Children: Our spouse, children and family can become idols. Serving our family precedes spending time with God; then they become idols. When the comfort of the children overrides our prayer discipline or churching then, our children become our idols.
2. Career: Our career, growth, promotion can become an idol. It is very important to be a prudent and scrupulous worker but when work steals worship and prayer time, it becomes an idol.
3. Comrade: Our comrades become idols when they start controlling our lives. People whom we trust the most can hurt us the most. If there are repeated wounds from friends, then it is important to reanalyze the place that friends have in our lives.
Anything or anyone who starts controlling our lives and separates us from the Lord God is an idol. Closeness need not mean control. Controlling relationships, people or possession are idols. God hates idolatry.
1 John 5:21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, I enthrone you as my Lord and my God. Help me not to let family, finance or friends become idols that control me. Amen.
Leave a Reply