How does Judges 2:11 connect to the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? Texts Under Consideration • Judges 2:11: “Then the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.” • Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Immediate Connection • Exodus 20:3 is God’s explicit command to give Him exclusive worship. • Judges 2:11 records Israel’s direct violation of that command by turning to Baal, a Canaanite fertility deity. • The two verses form a cause-and-effect pair: disobedience to the First Commandment leads to the “evil” described in Judges. Spiritual Dynamics at Work • Idolatry is not merely bowing to statues; it is a heart-level displacement of God’s rightful place (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). • Serving Baal reflected Israel’s desire for immediate prosperity and cultural acceptance rather than covenant faithfulness (Deuteronomy 7:1-6). • The phrase “did evil” (Judges 2:11) becomes a refrain throughout Judges, showing that forsaking the First Commandment opens the door to every subsequent sin (Judges 2:19; Romans 1:21-25). Wider Biblical Pattern • Golden calf episode (Exodus 32:1-8) illustrates how quickly God’s people abandon the First Commandment. • Elijah confronting Baal worship on Carmel (1 Kings 18:21) reiterates the same issue centuries later. • Jesus affirms exclusive worship in Matthew 4:10: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” Lessons for Today • Any allegiance—career, relationships, wealth—that rivals God’s supremacy becomes a modern “Baal.” • Fidelity to the First Commandment safeguards every other command; idolatry unravels them all. • Ongoing self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5) keeps the heart from drifting toward substitute gods. Supporting Scriptures • Deuteronomy 11:16 — warning against being “enticed to turn aside and worship other gods.” • Joshua 24:23 — “Throw away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD.” • 1 John 5:21 — “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” |
    |