The Image of God

This morning my reading took me into 1 Samuel Chapters 6-9. In the early chapters of this book it's revealed how God raised up Samuel to judge Israel. Samuel is a godly man and a prophet.

After defeating the Israelites, the Philistines foolishly tried to keep the Ark of God. Thousands died in their cities as a result. They finally returned the Ark to Israel but God's people were still relying on themselves rather than trusting in God. They cried out to God asked for a king. Samuel sensed this would be a big mistake but sought God's wisdom.

Here's the part I found most interesting. When Samuel asked God about giving the people a king God said, "heed their voice and make them a king." He gave Samuel a picture of what the people would deal with having a king and Samuel told Israel. But they still wanted their way.

The Lord doesn't make evil happen, nor does he plan for it. We have a choice - listen and obey or do things our own way. Let's take a little hike through history and see how that's worked out for us.

God created the world and everything in it. He gave mankind all that he could ever want and more. At the center of it all was a delightful tree with beautiful fruit that appeared to be delicious. And God said, "...but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil do not eat for you shall surely die."

We had to do it our way. We ate, now we die.

God told Israel to go into the promised land and kill all the people and take no plunder. Yet on many occasions they kept all the virgins and valuable assets. For their greed, over time, they were weakened and slaughtered, enslaved or driven out of those lands.

God told Samson never was a razor to be put to his head for he would lose all his strength. But he was beguiled by a woman and fell prey to her seduction. She cut off his hair and he was repaid by having his eyes gouged out by her brothers. Later he gave his life bringing down their temple - his vengeance too little too late.

In 2 Corinthians as Paul writes to the believers in Corinth, he's careful not to alienate them but makes it clear they need to be following Christ and not listening to a bunch of trouble-makers and false teachers. The Corinthian believers were bickering amongst themselves because they were all trying to do things their own way.


Over and over the people were told not to mix with people outside their race or worship their idols. Again and again the people did what they wanted. Time after time they were rewarded with desolation, plague, destruction and loss.

What's changed? There are few people in the world today who don't fall into the trap of rationalizing false religions under the guise of tolerance. There is none righteous, not one. And look where it's gotten us. The world is at war with itself because of sin: greed, sloth, poverty, murder, sexual immorality, political corruption, divorce, child abuse... Everyone is right but no one is righteous. Everyone has an answer but there is only one real solution. Everyone speaks love and humility with their lips but demonstrates arrogance and hate with their actions.

Psalm 97:10 reminds us "you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of the saints. He delivers them out of the hands of the wicked."

God says do what's right in My sight, not what we think is right. Tolerance is a word inviting evil to get a foothold. He delivers us when we listen to Him. If we ask and then go off and do our own thing, how can we expect anything but failure and misery?

In all the gospels, Jesus tells us to give up everything to follow Him. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to leave your home and family to pursue Christ. Each individual must seek God, hear God and obey God. It's that simple. Then He will deliver us out of the hands of the wicked.

Seek God - Prayer and Bible reading
Hear God - Bible and meditation
Obey God - Go where He sends

The image of God is in His word, in His Son who died for us, and in the Holy Spirit who guides us. Each in His turn impresses that image on our hearts. We need look no further than within. For the image of God is love.