We also see David doing an interesting thing. So, how can making an image of a serpent by acceptable, even commanded by God, if we aren't supposed to make any images of anything on earth? How is it that this bronze serpent actually had the power to protect people? Think about this and see why it is different than the golden calf debacle, my brothers in Christ. They made the bronze serpent and anyone looking at it was protected. On the contrary, they were blessed by God.įor example, the bronze serpent that the Lord commanded be made to protect the Israelites in the desert from actual snakes. The Old Testament was pretty clear about not getting involved with graven images/idolatry, right? The people got in all sorts of trouble for making a golden calf and worshipping it.there are many other examples of what not to do.īut there are some interesting cases in the Old Testament where people did some similiar-looking things as we Catholics do.and they were not sinning at all. We are to avoid any involvement with graven images.I'd be happy to ease read this post I wrote on this topic. Even good things, when worshipped above God, can become idols. In addition, various sinful practices are also forms of idolatry that must be avoided and replaced with habits that honor God. God condemns creating and worshiping idols. Christians are called to flee from these sins that serve as idols in our lives and pursue godly living (vv. 6) and these were practices of life before Christ (v.

In Colossians 3:5 we find, 'Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.' Judgment would result from such practices (v. Second, giving sin priority over God in our lives is called idolatry. First Peter 4:3 also states, 'For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.' This is a practice the Bible clearly prohibits for those who follow Christ (1 Corinthians 10:7 Galatians 5:20). Is there any sense in which people continue to worship graven images today? First, there are still many cultures in which people literally worship idols. In terms of function, however, both were specifically considered idol worship and were forbidden throughout Scripture. The difference appears to be that a graven image is a carved idol whereas a molten image is an idol molded out of a substance such as silver or gold.

Judges 18:14 makes a distinction between a graven image and a molten image. Leviticus 26:1 commands, 'Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God.' Again, the reason for commands against graven images is because only the Lord is to be worshiped. In the King James Version of the Bible, graven images are specifically mentioned more than forty times, always condemning the practice of making or worshiping them. In contrast, God commanded His people to worship only the one, true God of Israel (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). In Egypt, for example, the Israelites would have been aware of many idols that were worshiped by the Egyptians. Such images or idols were common in ancient culture, particularly in the nations surrounding Israel during its wilderness journey. The words 'graven image' are first found in Exodus 20:4 of the King James Version of the Bible: '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.' It is a phrase that literally refers to an idol, whether made of wood, stone, metal, silver, gold, or other items. The Ten Commandments mention a 'graven image.' What is a graven image?

Thou shalt have no graven images