What Does This Scripture Mean To You?

Question

Exodus 20:4 says; Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Here is the way I see it.

The making of a graven image, mean’s, that you should not make a self-fit God. That means a God that fit’s yourself, either with your hands or your minds! And example of this is someone who says; My God isn’t a God of Wrath and Judgment, he one of Love and Mercy. He would never create a place called Hell!

When someone says this, agree with them, say, You’re right! Your god would never create a place called hell! He couldn’t. He doesn’t have the power to! Because, he doesn’t exist! He’s a figment of your imagination, in place of imagery. For you’ve molded and shaped a god to fit yourself. You’ve said, I’m the potter he’s the clay, and you’ve molded a god to fit you. Its called Idolatry! It’s the oldest sin in the Bible.

PS: In regards to the Golden Calf. If you go back and read the Bible you will see that Aaron or no other of the Children molded that calf. They cast there gold into the fire, and the calf came out.

It was formed by Satan and not man.

oooooolala, I stand corrected. For some reason I never look at it that way? Just something I was taught as a child and never researched it. Just shows the danger at taking someone else at there word. In this I violated on of my own rules of Bible Study. Thanks.

Answer 1

I like your example. :-)

Some people don't know who God is--even though they think they do. They only read the part of the Bible they like--the part that makes them feel all warm and fuzzy inside. God's Word tells us to "fear" God for a reason. All one has to do is read the Old Testament to figure that out.

Like many other people out there, I've had pride in my own ideas or the things I've created. We must be careful because pride grabs glory for oneself--it steals from God what He rightfully deserves. Pride and idolatry go hand-in-hand.

When we give our own ideas/things glory instead of giving God the glory He deserves--we have broken this commandment.

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Addition:

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree about the golden calf. If you read all of Exodus 32... First off, the people went to Aaron asking him to make "gods" to lead them since it appeared to them that Moses was gone/dead.

In verse 2 Aaron told the people to bring him some gold.

Verse 3, the people brought Aaron gold.

Verse 4, Aaron made a "metal casting of a calf that he (Aaron) shaped with a chisel." Then Aaron told the people that these were their gods who brought them out of Egypt. Etc.

Later, when Moses returned, in verse 24, Aaron was making an excuse when he told Moses that he threw the gold in the fire and *poof* out came the calf.

Aaron was simply avoiding his responsibility in the sin. It reminds me of Adam who instead of repenting of his sin pointed his finger at God and basically said to God, "This woman you gave me caused me to sin/eat of the forbidden tree..."
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Answer 2

By graven image, it means an actual idol made of physical material, that its worshiper has endowed with supposed supernatural powers. (Like the golden calf the Israelites made when Moses went up the mountain to get the Ten Commandments.)

Different interpretations of the nature of God are not idols. Every human being has a unique idea of how God looks, thinks, feels, and reacts.

Answer 3

Exodus 20:4 says; Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

That verse is telling you to just be yourself by way of following The Lord.
A graven image is an image that a person can compile for themselves in there life that is dangerous so to speak. Take the people that are known as being tuff, and not to mess with. The people that live there lives off of living by an image that way is graven because in the end they will end up dead one way or another. Ultimately dying here in this life, and being dead in spirit because they lived there life by a graven image which God has specifically said not to do. The longer a person lives off of an image like that will ultimately destroy themselves inside and out because no matter what happens in there life they feel they are expected to hold up that image.
The likeness of heaven above, the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth is making an image of thine own self. To portray to yourself and to others that you are one who is of that nature in all that you do.
I say by way of following The Lord because when a person will follow The Lord in all that he teaches. That person will definately just be themselves in just that amount.
Take for instance, turning the cheek when someone lashes out at you. The people that are held up with graven image, they cant do that because it has been there graven image that holds them back from keeping that Faith in The Lord in that manner.
When a person follows The Lord that person will always have at hand knowing that The Lord is thy God. God is the one and only powerful God. When a person takes on an image of heaven above, the earth beneath, or the water under the earth is acting out a role that is familiar with paganism. Pagans are people that have knowledge of the way spiritual power works. A pagan is one who may play, or even seriously work the powers that be; in the heavens above, the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Answer 4

I think your interpretation is quite a stretch.

The scripture tells us not to worship idols or false or man-made gods. It directly targeted object like the Golden Calf, which likely was the god Ba'al in another form. It is true that idolatry can take many forms, including the worship of money, but I don't think this was what God had in mind.

I think he was saying he is a jealous God who doesn't expect to share our love and respect with a piece of metal, stone or wood.

Answer 5

Yes, God the Creator does not want us to put any other gods before Him. He is GOD, He is infinite, and infinitely better than any other so-called gods. He is real folks, and He loves you and has a plan and purpose for your life. Trust Him today with your life, He can cleanse you from sin, forgive your sin, and give you freedom like you have never known.
I cannot articulate in full measure what your missing, if you don't know God personally.

Answer 6

I ll go ahead and introduce an abstract concept that i aften use. Words are in themselves objects, just like material objects that you see in the outside world. when you say God, you already materialized Him, because you represented Him with a sound, a voice, or a manuscript ( giving that you can write ''God'' too) so the idea of forbidding icons is an archaic law. It applies to a period back in time where people used religion the same way we use science today: a way to answer questions that tortured the mind of men.

Answer 7

If that is the way you see it then right or wrong your mind is already made up, so why am I going to sit here and tell you that you are mistaken? The Lord loves you, maybe you are unhappy with who you are and not satisfied with what the Lord has provided for you. I am not, I am grateful for this opportunity to make my dreams comes true. Even though I may fail, I would not change it for anything.

Answer 8

We should not worship God with the image of any created thing but to worship God in spirit and truth. God is Spirit and anything we made to represent Him will be a misrepresentation of Him. A lie is an abomination to God.

Answer 9

Totally agree with you. If you imagine and grave "god should be like this, like that, blah blah" and try to meet your imaginary god, you'll never see the god. We need to see the true, alive god. (But how? is the big time question...)

Answer 10

You pretty much answered your own question..but is a very nice point. Christian today belive in what they chose to belive, picking some verses and throwing others. People read your bibles.