We are in chapter twenty-three of Exodus with our word for today which is actually a phrase. אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ other gods. It is used 63 times in the Old Testament. We looked at the phrase before me in chapter twenty when we looked at the first of the ten commandments. Our phrase for today is closely related to it. Let’s start there since it is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 20:3 You shall have no אֱלֹהִ֥֨ים אֲחֵרִ֖֜ים other gods before me. When we looked at this verse earlier we saw that we are not to have any other gods in front of God himself but rather our focus and devotion needs to be solely focused on God. Let’s look at some of these usages of our phrase to help us understand what these other gods involve that would get in the way of our relationship with the true God. The next use is the one in our chapter for today. Exodus 23:13 Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips. Here not only are we not to have any gods before God but not even mention the names of these other gods. We also see the idea of not just having other gods before God or mentioning their names but even going after them, serving them and even worshiping them. (Deuteronomy 6:14; Deuteronomy 30:17). The danger of other gods is that they would turn the people’s hearts away from God. Deuteronomy 11:16 Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים other gods and worship them. 1 Kings11:4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים other gods. The people that lived around God’s people had a bad influence on them in this regard (Deuteronomy 6:14). God spells out the consequences for serving other gods: his anger would be kindled against them, he would destroy them quickly, and even death (Deuteronomy 7:4; 18:20; 2 Chronicles 28:25).Deuteronomy 31:18 And I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲחֵרִֽים other gods. Did you catch that? When we don’t take God seriously about the influence of other gods it brings about evil so great that God hides his face. God goes further in his description of what one is doing to their relationship with God when they turn to other gods. Deuteronomy 31:20 For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֲחֵרִים֙ other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant. Did you see that? The people despised God and broke his covenant by turning to other gods. Not only did they transgress the covenant but the consequences of doing so was they would perish quickly from off the good land God had given them. God also calls this forsaking him, abandoning him and even whoring after other gods (Joshua 24:16, Judges 2:12, 17). I find it interesting that God instructs the people not to fear these other gods. You shall not fear אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִֽים other gods. What makes this strange is that these other gods are simply things either they or other human beings have made themselves (2 Kings 17:35, 37-38). Jeremiah 1:16 They have made offerings לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands. The reality is that demonic forces are at work in people’s hearts to pull them away from God. Jeremiah 13:10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים other gods to serve them and worship them. This is clarified in the New Testament. I’ll close with this thought. 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
