GRAVEN IMAGES (I-DOLLS)
Isn't it ironic that when a chid is born, one of the first things we give a child is a doll or a stuffed object made in the likeness of a creature? Practically all of us have been raised in homes where statues, ornaments and trinkets (all graven images) are featured prominently in every room, and have not given a second thought to following the tradition in our own homes...
Even many of us who have been raised with a Christian upbringing are very quick to point the finger at Catholics with their plethora of statues of “saints” yet see no harm in giving our children a “soft-toy” to comfort them.
Admittedly, none of us would dream of bowing down to our shaped ornaments or doll collection, and it is a fact that Catholics do bow and give reverence to their “saints”, so is there a difference, or is it just nit-picking to suggest that household statues and action toys are idols?
As always, we need to examine Scripture to find if our actions (and possessions) please Yahweh or are vain traditions of man, or even worse: an abomination!
Exodus
20:4-6
“You
do not make for yourself a carved image, or any
likeness of that which is in the heavens
above, or which is in the earth beneath, or
which is in the waters under the earth, 5
you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, YHWH
your Elohim am a jealous Ěl, visiting the crookedness of the fathers
on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate
Me, 6
but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My
commands.”
A common excuse we give ourselves is that we do not bow nor serve our garden gnomes so it's o.k. to fill the lawn with them, but it seems that in reading this – the Second Commandment, that “making” and “bowing” are separate commands and are to do neither.
Let's look further to see if this is the case...
Deuteronomy
4:15-19
“Therefore,
diligently guard yourselves, for you saw no form when YHWH
spoke to you at Horĕb out of the midst of
the fire, 16
lest you should do corruptly
and shall make
for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure
– the likeness of male or female,
17
the likeness of any beast that is on
the earth or the
likeness of any winged bird that flies in the heavens,
18
the likeness of any creature that
creeps on the ground or the
likeness of any fish that is in the water
under the earth; 19
and lest you lift up your eyes to the heavens, and shall see the sun,
and the moon, and the stars – all the host of the heavens –
and
you be drawn away into bowing down to them and serving them, which
YHWH your Elohim
has allotted to all the peoples under all the heavens.”
Oh dear... No mention of bowing or serving our images here. Just a straightforward warning NOT to make any carved likeness. The Scripture continues...
Deuteronomy
4:23-25
“Guard
yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of YHWH
your Elohim which He made with you, and shall make for yourselves a
carved image in the form of whatever
YHWH
your Elohim has forbidden you. 24
For YHWH
your Elohim is a consuming fire, a jealous Ěl. 25
When you bring forth children and grandchildren, and shall grow old
in the land, and shall do corruptly and make
a carved image in the form of whatever,
and shall do what is evil in the eyes of YHWH
your Elohim to provoke Him...”
Again, no mention of bowing; just a repeat to NOT make a carved image. This Scripture even reminds us that it this is His Covenant - His Commandment. Not just a gentle warning.
The Commandment given in Exodus is repeated nearly word for word in Deuteronomy:
Deuteronomy
5:8-10
‘You
do not make for yourself a carved
image, any
likeness of which is in
the heavens above, or which is in
the earth beneath, or which is in
the waters under the earth, 9
you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, YHWH
your Elohim, am a jealous Ěl, visiting the crookedness of the
fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of
those who hate Me, 10
but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My
commands.”
In case we're still in any doubt about how Yahweh feels about images, a curse is attached to the warning for those tempted to make one.
Deuteronomy
27:15
‘Cursed
is the man who makes a carved or moulded image, an
abomination to YHWH, the work of
the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all
the
people shall answer and say, ‘Amĕn!’
Curses and abomination! Abomination (Strongs 08441, tow'ebah) is the strongest word in Scripture for something detestable to Yahweh. The following verse sums up concisely what Yahweh thinks about adorning our homes and pacifying our children with abominations and nullifies any argument as to whether you “made” the image or someone else.
Deuteronomy
7:26
“And
do not bring an abomination into your house,
lest you be accursed like it. Utterly loathe it and utterly hate it,
for it is accursed.”
Read
this prophecy
from Yeshayah:
Isaiyah 31:7 “For
in that day, let each man reject his idols of silver
and his idols
of gold, which your own hands have made for
yourselves, as a sin.”
Some use the
reasoning that someone else made the image
thereby justifying their pleasure in graven images. This of course is a
supremely foolish excuse, and one could argue that they are free
of
guilt if they paid someone else to murder someone! Read the account of
Dawid who had Uriah the husband of Bathsheba put to death in battle (2
Shemuel 12)... Yahweh held Dawid fully accountable for the murder.
When you use the money that you are required to be a good steward for,
to purchase a graven image; you become partakers in the sin.
The Hebrew word for “carved image” is pecel (Strong's 06459), and literally means: graven or carved image. The Scriptures also use the word “moulded” (Strong's 04541, maccekah) meaning a cast image.
The commands given use language and repetition to the effect that Yahweh made it abundantly clear that EVERY image in the likeness of creation is included in His abhorrence. The Command reads “or likeness” (Ex 20:4) which just about covers every dimensional image that we could imagine; large or small that is carved, moulded or constructed to replicate His creation amongst any object in our homes. This would include: children's toys, action figures, dolls, lamp-stands, picture frames, china images, crystal images, garden onaments... etc.
Deuteronomy
7:5-6
“But
this is what you do to them: Break down their altars, and smash their
pillars, and cut down their Ashĕrim, and burn
their carved images
with fire. 6
“For you are a set-apart people to YHWH
your Elohim. YHWH
your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a
treasured possession above all the
peoples on the face of the earth.”
The reason Yahweh gives for this command is not to spoil our fun; He tells us we are to be His set-apart people; His treasured possession. What an honour!
When Yahweh commanded His people to build an altar to Him it was to be untouched by any tools:
Deuteronomy
27:5
“And
build an altar to YHWH your Elohim there,
an altar of stones – do not use an iron tool on them.” (See
also
Josh 8:31)
And when Yahweh wanted His Hekal built with images of Kerubim and pomegranates He said so (See 1 Kings Chapter 6). So if Yahweh has told you it's o.k. to have images in your home then no one will argue; but if you ask any unbeliever to read through the second Commandment then ask them whether or not they think your collection of china figurines is in violation... I think you know in your conscience what answer you will receive.
Some
who honestly research this subject and admit that Yahweh finds ALL
images of His creation made by human hands to be abominable, find
themselves questioning paintings, photographs and many other forms of
2-dimensional artwork.
In all honesty, ANYTHING that comes before Yahweh can be a form of an idol including much of our hobbies and pastimes, yet Scripture makes a distinct point that 3-dimensional (moulded, carved, engraved, embossed, etc.) images are abominable yet doesn't mention 2-dimensional art or pictographs at all despite the fact that this form of art was prolific throughout Egypt where the Yisra'elites had come from when Yahweh gave the Torah.
May Yahweh bless you as you strive to obey Him.1 John 5:21 "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amĕn."
By the way; although this article may seem harsh due mainly to the stern words in the Scriptures, it is in no way meant to be haughty, and is written in the most humble sense in that nearly all of us are guilty of this transgression.
Scriptures quoted are taken from “The Scriptures – 1998” (International Scripture Research) available through www.isr-messianic.org
www.2besaved.com