Divine Revelation about Strange Gods

September 24, 2022

Scripture speaks explicitly about “strange” gods in at least 17 verses:

Gen. 35:2  Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

Gen. 35:4  And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

Deut. 32:12  So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.

Deut. 32:16  They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.

Jos. 24:20  If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

Jos. 24:23  Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

Jdg. 10:16  And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

1 Sam. 7:3  And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 Chr. 14:3  For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

2 Chr. 33:15  And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.

Ps. 44:20  If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;

Ps. 81:9  There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

Isa. 43:12  I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

Jer. 5:19  And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

Dan. 11:39  Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

Mal. 2:11  Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

Acts 17:18  Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

These verses reveal several facts about divine revelation concerning strange gods:

Both Testaments speak about strange gods.

Both God’s people and pagans speak about strange gods.

Scripture speaks about strange gods repeatedly being a problem among God’s people.

Scripture seems to connect earrings with strange gods in one passage (Gen. 35:4) and speaks explicitly of altars for strange gods in another passage (2 Chr. 14:3).

Scripture speaks about the daughter of a strange god (Mal. 2:11).

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

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Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.