Why did Israel sin against the LORD according to 2 Kings 17:7? Reading the Verse “Now this came about because the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and they had feared other gods.” (2 Kings 17:7) What the Verse States Directly • Israel sinned against the LORD—despite His past redemption. • Their specific offense: “they had feared other gods.” Unpacking the Core Reason 1. They forgot their Redeemer • The LORD “had brought them up out of the land of Egypt.” • Deliverance from Egypt was meant to secure their lifelong loyalty (Exodus 20:2–3). • Forgetting redemption opened the door to compromise (Psalm 106:21). 2. They misdirected their fear • “Feared” in Hebrew (yārē’) carries ideas of reverence, awe, allegiance. • Instead of revering the One who saved them, they transferred that reverence to false gods (Deuteronomy 6:12–14). 3. They broke covenant • Redeeming them from Pharaoh made Israel God’s covenant people (Exodus 19:4–6). • Idolatry was therefore treason, not merely religious experimentation (2 Kings 17:15). Tracing How Forgetfulness Leads to Idolatry • Forget redemption → gratitude fades. • Gratitude fades → covenant obligations feel optional. • Obligations discounted → surrounding cultures look attractive. • Attraction becomes allegiance → “they feared other gods.” Reinforcing Witness from Other Scriptures • Deuteronomy 8:11–14—Moses warns that prosperity can dull memory of Egypt’s chains. • Jeremiah 2:6—centuries later, God still charges Israel with forgetting the Exodus. • Hosea 13:4–6—God links forgetfulness directly to idolatry and judgment. Takeaway Israel sinned because they let the wonder of their salvation fade. Once the memory of God’s mighty deliverance dimmed, fear and allegiance naturally drifted to the nearest substitute. Keeping redemption front-and-center is the surest guard against every modern form of idolatry. |
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