THIRST AND THRIVING
Hidden Idols, Holy Joy
After Wilderness Walking we continue to journey with God's people as they take the Land God gave them. How can their reactions to the perils they faced instruct us as disciples now? What does their long struggle with idolatry have to say to us as Christians in 21st century Western culture?
Idolatry seems like a long-ago, far-away problem. We read the Old Testament and wonder why on earth God’s people kept returning to such a useless practice. Surely we would have known better! Or would we? In these teachings we look together at what was going on behind the golden calves and Asherah poles. What was happening in their hearts to make them think this was a good idea? As we ask this question, we will discover some answers that sound familiar – uncomfortably familiar! When we are needy, we too have hearts that naturally turn to many other things for help instead of calling on God. We look together at the shape of idolatry in our own day, and at ways we can turn from it and turn to our heavenly Father instead. Tim Keller’s book Counterfeit Gods is an excellent way to begin considering this subject.