You Worship What? Exodus 23:25-26
Exodus 23:25 These two verses are full of promise.
- There is a command at the beginning of the verse that we better pay attention to. “Worship the Lord your God,”
- There are two words used here in the Hebrew for God. We see “Lord” and “God” in English.
- In Hebrew it is the names Yahweh and Elohim
- Many consider that the name Yahweh is the proper or personal name of God.
- This name is perhaps the most complex of all God’s names.
- The most frequently occurring name used for God.
- And the second name used here is Elohim.
- This name Elohim means “first” or “creator.”
- It’s the name we see first, right away in Genesis 1:1.
- Both names Yahweh and Elohim are strongly connected to God as creator.
- This is no accident that these names are used here in this verse in Exodus.
- As God calls us to worship Him, He is also calling us to remember that He is creator God.
- He also gives all those promises here because those other gods cannot do those things.
- The basic command here is to worship.
- The Hebrew word used here can also mean to serve.
- What God is really saying here is worship or serve me wholeheartedly and exclusively.
The previous context here is important.
Exodus 23:23 As the Israelites were passing through those other nations God was concerned that they would be tempted by their gods.
- Remember the Israelites are just coming out of captivity and are not used to freedom.
- So, He gives them this command to worship him. And reminding them that his is creator God.
- God is saying worship or serve me wholeheartedly and exclusively. And remember that I am creator God.
- Do not be tempted by those other gods.
- I would say that this is still a word for us in our day.
- We must worship the Lord our God wholeheartedly and exclusively.
- And you might say, “Oh but pastor I do worship him wholeheartedly and exclusively.”
- And if you were to say that, I would call your bluff.
- And in order to call your bluff I would say: Show me our calendar; show me your check book
So what do we do?
- Verse 24 This verse is the antidote to the things that steal our worship.
- What might you need to demolish? For the Hebrews it was idols, fetishes, statues.
- What idols or small g gods in our life do we need to Demolish?
- The rest of verse of 25.
- In this context He is asking them to remember the Mana and Quail that He caused to miraculously appear. Exodus 16.
- Creator God can make food appear from nothing.
- In this context God is also asking them to remember water coming from the rock. Exodus. 17.
- This is the nature of creator God.
- And all he asks of us, is wholehearted and exclusive worship.
- Our time, our attention, our tithe.
- Just like God didn’t want the Israelites to get distracted by the gods of those other nations, God does not want us distracted by the temptations and small g gods of our day.