Lately, I have felt a shaking and displacement of many things in my walk with the Lord. It’s been super uncomfortable. But I am coming to see this as His mercy. He is revealing the places of encounter, deliverance, and even praiseworthy daily disciplines that have become a substitute for truly surrendering my heart in intimacy. Truth is, I don’t know how to let them go because I am unable to discern where they have become idols in my heart. I have come to depend upon these “practices” rather than trust God in intimacy and vulnerability, ie. nakedness. I have more in common with the Israelites than I like to admit.
“[Hezekiah] removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan (something made of copper).” – 2 Kings 18:4
What were the Israelites doing worshiping a bronze serpent?! Didn’t they remember the commandment they were given:
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image–any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.” – Exodus 20:4-5
The fact is that God instructed Moses to craft the Nehustan as an implement of Israel’s deliverance after the people repented of their bitter complaints (read Numbers 21:4-9). And it did deliver them as they looked up at it. This serpent on a pole was a sign of God’s provision of salvation for His people. But after that moment, they failed to return their hearts to Him. They remained in their fear rather than drawing close. How do we know? Because the “symbol” of deliverance became their object of worship rather than worshiping the Deliverer. And that’s why Hezekiah destroyed it.
“These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” – Matthew 15:8-9
The reason the Israelites needed the Nehushtan in the first place was because they were separated in their hearts from God. Afterwards, it became the focus of their worship because they remained separated in their hearts from God.
In my earnest devotion I still am blind to where I’ve supplemented His ways for His voice daily ruling in my heart. I need Him to catch me and shake me and free me for my own sake. So He’s making sure I can’t hold onto anything but Him. Maybe not always fun, but definitely freeing.
Diana
