The ancient near east had a wide array of false gods. Some were associated with elements of nature like water or sun and others were associated with society, such as gods of wisdom or justice. There were gods of fertility, gods of terror and even one for “nothingness.” What began as formless pieces of wood, stone or precious metals were fashioned into statues and then ceremonially dedicated to “transform” them into a god.
When a pagan nation conquered another they would carry away the defeated nation’s gods (a practice that has come to be known as “godnapping”). While the seizing of another’s gods was both humiliating and demoralizing, the idols were not destroyed. Instead, the abducted gods would, with great fanfare, be placed in the victor’s temple of worship for safekeeping.
To our modern minds that tactic seems less shameful than destroying an enemy’s gods. However, the reason that wicked people worshiped idols was not simply to satisfy a religious itch. Their worship was based on selfishness. While the worshipers physically demonstrated submission to them, the truth was that they wanted something in return. It was a kind of religious quid pro quo. The worship was transactional. “I will honor and worship you with the understanding that you will do good things for me.” In truth, the idol of the one worshiping a false god is himself.
A famous attempt by wicked men to manipulate false gods is recorded in 1 Kings 18. 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah came together to motivate their evil gods to a public demonstration of power. They were utterly humiliated by the One, True God and his prophet, Elijah. Sadly, this tale of conquest by God and His prophet are rare compared to the numerous accounts of idolatrous behavior by Israel. They made a golden calf while Moses was away, King Saul sought the advice of a witch and numerous other kings formalized idol worship under their reign.
As disappointing as those accounts are, there is another that is, perhaps, even more unsettling. In 1 Samuel 4, Israel did not worship an idol, but they treated God like one.
The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” (1 Sam. 4:2–3)
It is true that in several biblical accounts, Israel was commanded to carry the ark before them into battle. And in each of those they enjoyed a decisive victory. However, in those instances the tactic was initiated by God. Here, Israel tried to use a physical object to manipulate God into winning the battle for them. Their idol-worshiping enemy, the Philistines, immediately recognized the tactic. 1 Samuel 4:6-7 reads, “And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp, the Philistines were afraid, for they said, ‘A god has come into the camp.’” They knew a false god-worshiping tactic when they saw one.
Yahweh was not the false god and neither was the ark. No Israelite bowed before it. But just like the pagans whose true idol was themselves, here the Israelites place themselves on the throne in the same way. Their actions communicated that God owed them. Their presumption was that God was going to do their bidding in the way that they prescribed and at the time of their choosing. This was the product of a transactional worship mindset. “I followed your worship rules, so now You need to do me a favor.”
How often do you slip into this mindset? Is it possible that sometimes you are disappointed because God did not come through for you in the way and at the time of your choosing? Do you look at obedience to God’s commands exclusively as the fruit of love for Him, or do you also keep a mental record of your “faithfulness” in the hope that you will be able to call in a marker?
Israel learned the hard way that God cannot be coerced. Not only did they endure harrowing losses in the battle against the Philistines, they “lamented after the Lord” for the following 20 years. Don’t mistake the victorious reality that He is able to do far more abundantly than all that you ask or think, with the self-serving expectation that God will do what you ask or think. For the Christian, the worship of God is characterized by the inseparable qualities of love and obedience. Do not tarnish either by making them transactional.
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (Jn. 14:21)