11/12/2022 - WORSHIPING THE HOST OF HEAVEN

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Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD, but who also swear by Milcom. Zephaniah 1.5

God’s people had been brought out of Egypt by the strong hand of the Almighty, but they were influenced by the bad example of the nations of the region and became guilty before the Almighty. Now the Israelites swore by the Lord and by Malkan, the Ammonite god, also known as Milkom or Moloch. This god demanded baby sacrifices, promising to “guarantee” good harvests to his worshipers. Yes, the people of Judah did this.

Let’s observe Lot’s case, who was raised by Abraham. Everything he had, came from the kindness of his uncle, who raised him. However, Lot was totally unfair and mean to him. When Abraham asked him to choose the land, whether on the left or on the right, in order to separate, the nephew preferred the lands of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were well watered. The patriarch got the mountains occupied by the Canaanites (Genesis 13.1-13).

The Scriptures say:  But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord (Genesis 13.13), so the Lord wanted to destroy it, as well as Gomorrah. However, He had mercy on Lot, for whom the patriarch Abraham had interceded. Lot had entered there with his family and his possessions, but left with only his two daughters, for his wife was no longer with him (Genesis. 19.1-26). Whoever is greedy and does not cry out to God to be transformed goes from bad to worse. Furthermore, living in disobedience gives the devil permission to be your master.

In fact, the Most High annihilated these cities, as well as the whole region, because the moral decay there was enormous. The ambitious Lot lost his resources in this event, leaving there with only the clothes on his back. His wife became a pillar of salt, for having rebelled against the word of God’s angel (Genesis 19.24-26; Hebrews 2.2).

Those who do not consult the Lord act recklessly, like Lot’s daughters. They led their father to commit incest, and the fruits of this attitude were two boys, who became two nations: Ammon and Moab (Genesis 19.30-38). You see, the Ammonites worshiped and served Malkan, as well as the inhabitants of Judah, mentioned in the verse being studied. It is unbelievable that the demon of their enemies became their god. Of course, they didn’t reject the Most High, but they did worse: they pledged their word for the Lord and for Malkan. They shipwrecked!

Those who leave the Creator of Heaven and Earth soon begin to worship other gods, contrary to the Lord’s guidance in His Word. Because of this act, the Israelites were defeated by the Babylonians and taken into captivity in Babylon. Never rebel against the Most High. Always act in accordance with the Scriptures!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares