What does "Where are their gods?" reveal about false idols' reliability? The Context of Moses’ Challenge “He will say: ‘Where are their gods, the rock in whom they took refuge, who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let them be your shelter!’” Moses pictures the moment when Israel, having chased after idols, meets disaster. The living God asks one piercing question: “Where are their gods?” What the Question Reveals About False Idols • Powerless in crisis – When calamity strikes, idols cannot “rise up and help.” (cf. 1 Kings 18:26–29) • Absent and unreachable – They neither speak nor act; they are “the work of men’s hands” (Psalm 115:4–7). • Exposed by judgment – God allows hardship so the emptiness of substitutes becomes obvious. (Isaiah 45:16) • Dependent on human devotion – They “ate the fat” and “drank the wine,” existing only because people sustain their cults. • Destined to disappoint – “Those who make them will become like them” — lifeless and unresponsive. (Psalm 115:8) Supporting Witnesses in Scripture • Jeremiah 2:28 — “But where are your gods you made for yourself? Let them rise up if they can save you in the time of trouble.” • Isaiah 44:17 — “A man bows to a block of wood and says, ‘Save me!’ ” • Habakkuk 2:18–19 — “Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ ” All echo the same verdict: idols fail when most needed. The Contrast: The LORD Who Does Rescue • Present and attentive: “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20) • Sovereign over disasters: “I form light and create darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity.” (Isaiah 45:7) • Proven deliverer: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you.” (Psalm 50:15) • Unchanging refuge: “Even to your old age I will carry you.” (Isaiah 46:4) Takeaways for Today • Identify any modern “gods” (wealth, status, technology) that quietly claim trust. • Remember that crisis exposes foundations; only the Lord endures. • Anchor confidence in the one true Rock whose faithfulness never fails. |
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