There's a pretty consistent theme that comes through in these chapters. God is going to completely destroy the Israelites, the people, the city, the riches, the livestock....everything. In the first paragraph of chapter 6 he talks a lot about the idols that the people had constructed.
5 I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.
I think its REALLY important for us to remember that God is a jealous God. You can almost predict the future for the Israelites....the are saved by God, and then the wander themselves into destruction...then God saves them and they wander again. It must look like a futile pattern to God. It really angers him when we replace him with something man-made, or with anything at all. It drives him crazy to the point that he will destroy us. I don't think I live my life with the extreme mindset. I am not creating a golden staute that I build an altar for, and worship.....but, I do struggle with replacing God with my own plan, or with my own ambition, or with a desire for materism, or with my own family. I let things get in front of God everyday! I'm more aware of it lately, and am working on it.
wow a great take on your part...and a bit convicting. I have definitely let my work get in the way of my connection with God lately. I have to change this pattern of self destruction. thanks for your insights!
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