How does Ezekiel 20:29 challenge our understanding of idolatry in modern life? Setting the scene in Ezekiel 20 Ezekiel 20 recounts Israel’s history of rebellion. God highlights their habit of worshiping on “high places,” pagan sites set on hills. Verse 29 records His pointed reminder: “So I asked them: ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ And to this day it is called Bamah.” High places then and now • Ancient Israel literally climbed hills to bow before idols. • God’s question exposes the heart issue: whenever people invent a substitute for Him, they create a “high place.” • The physical hill may be gone, but the impulse remains. A piercing question for today’s believers “What is this high place to which you go?” still rings true. The Lord probes where trust, affection, and time are directed. He is not asking for information; He is confronting misplaced worship. Modern forms of high places • Career ladders and the applause of colleagues • Unlimited entertainment streams and gaming worlds • Social-media platforms where self-image is curated and worshiped • Fitness, health, and beauty regimens pursued for identity rather than stewardship • Financial markets, retirement accounts, and insurance policies sought as ultimate security • Romantic relationships or family ties elevated above obedience to Christ Each can become a “Bamah” when it claims the devotion that belongs to God alone. Why idolatry still offends God • Exodus 20:3–4 — “You shall have no other gods before Me… you shall not make for yourself an idol.” • Matthew 6:24 — “No one can serve two masters.” • 1 John 5:21 — “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” • Colossians 3:5 — “Greed… is idolatry.” He insists on exclusive covenant loyalty; rivals grieve His Spirit and distort His image in those redeemed to reflect Him. Tearing down personal bamot 1. Identify repeated destinations of thought, energy, and expense. 2. Compare their pull with the call to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:5). 3. Renounce and remove what competes, remembering 1 Corinthians 10:14: “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” 4. Replace idols with intentional worship—Scripture meditation, gathered fellowship, sacrificial service. 5. Guard the heart continually; high places can be rebuilt if vigilance lapses. Walking in covenant fidelity Ezekiel’s generation kept the name “Bamah” alive; the warning is preserved so believers today will not. Choosing daily to adore the Lord above every rival dismantles modern high places and displays true allegiance to the God who tolerates no substitutes. |
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