10-30-2015

 Good Morning All!!

       Genesis 31:34; “Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel's saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them.”

    Rachel had stolen the household idols.  This is the Rachel, daughter of Laban, favorite wife of Jacob.  As she and her family are leaving her father’s home to go to her husband’s home, she steals the family household gods.  These household gods would have been small carved figurines that held great significance.  These were among the greatest possession of the family.  Whoever possessed the household gods was seen as the head of the family.  So either Jacob (Rachel’s husband) or her sons would be the head of the family after her father died rather than her brothers.  The household gods were usually the most important part of the family.  They reflected the values of the family.

    Of course, this is Old Testament stuff, we don’t have household gods today do we?  Unfortunately many families do have household gods.  Today our gods may take the form of camping or fishing or golf or the kid’s activities.  Our gods might be time to sleep in or a time to have a family brunch.  Some have a favorite television show that they just can’t miss.  We all have something that we hold onto dearly and in doing so we have created our own household gods.

    When the Israelites invaded and conquered the Promised Land, they were told not to marry any of the inhabitants or even let them remain in the land.  The reason was because each family had their own gods and God knew that the children of Israel would fall away and follow the false gods.  We do the same and, at many ways, we start out with good intentions.  We want to be supportive of our children or share time as a family.  These slippery slopes quietly tell our children that there are more important things than worship time.  We are quietly telling them that our worship time with God can be replaced by something else that is more important.

    Many will say, “I can still worship at another time.”  This is true; but do we or do we simply let it slide?  Our actions show our priorities and our priorities show where our heart is and our heart reveals our faith.  So are there things in our life that are more important than God?  If there are, we have household gods and these are detrimental to our relationship to the true God.  So what do we do?  If you find yourself in situations where you cannot make it to a worship time then truly set aside time as a family to read God’s Word and pray together.  Our actions show our faith and we want to show those around us that our faith is important to us.  Throw away the household gods and seek after the true God and his grace.

Father, help me throw away the household gods in my life.  Lead me to know that you alone are the true God and that you alone give me the hope for my salvation.  Guide me by your Spirit to seek only you.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret