GODS
What About All the Other Gods in the Bible?
The gods of the biblical era were profuse. They were the inventions of the human mind in a world that had rejected the true God and his sovereignty over humanity.
The Old Testament prophets denied the reality of pagan gods (cf. Jer. 2:28), as did the New Testament writers (1 Cor. 8:4). Nevertheless, the Lord's people were frequently tempted to worship false gods, e.g., Baal, Molech, etc. (cf. Ezek. 16).
However, the law of Moses explicitly forbade such (Ex. 20:3-6). Because of the sin of idolatry, the kingdom of Israel was taken into Assyrian captivity (722-21 B.C.), and the kingdom of Judah was carried into Babylon, beginning in 606 B.C. -- for seventy years.
When they returned from Babylon, the Hebrew people never worshipped idols again, even though they were afflicted with numerous other lapses in fidelity.
The Scriptures warn that any object can be elevated to the status of a god when one's service to Jehovah is subordinated to interests deemed more important (cf. Col. 3:5; Mt. 6:33).
The Old Testament prophets denied the reality of pagan gods (cf. Jer. 2:28), as did the New Testament writers (1 Cor. 8:4). Nevertheless, the Lord's people were frequently tempted to worship false gods, e.g., Baal, Molech, etc. (cf. Ezek. 16).
However, the law of Moses explicitly forbade such (Ex. 20:3-6). Because of the sin of idolatry, the kingdom of Israel was taken into Assyrian captivity (722-21 B.C.), and the kingdom of Judah was carried into Babylon, beginning in 606 B.C. -- for seventy years.
When they returned from Babylon, the Hebrew people never worshipped idols again, even though they were afflicted with numerous other lapses in fidelity.
The Scriptures warn that any object can be elevated to the status of a god when one's service to Jehovah is subordinated to interests deemed more important (cf. Col. 3:5; Mt. 6:33).
