God showed great signs to the children of Israel when He brought them out of Egyptian bondage.  For an Israelite of that generation there had been plenty of demonstrations of God’s power over the false gods of Egypt.  With this history it is interesting to see the idolatry that they fell into in Exodus 32.  When Moses was receiving the law on the mount, the people came to Aaron and said, “Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.”  The next few verses reveal that Aaron buckled under the pressure and obeyed them by making a molten calf.  How could they do this?  Did they not remember what God had done for them?  What was the appeal of making a false god to worship?  If they didn’t want to be governed by a higher authority, why make up a false higher authority?

Idolatry was often a temptation to people in Bible times because it afforded them luxury of doing what they pleased and still claiming to believe in a higher power.  In the example just mentioned in Exodus 32, it should be noticed that verse 6 says, “And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink and rose up to play.”  The “play” here may indicate sexual sin.  Thus, the people involved themselves in any sort of pleasure they wanted but could still soothe their conscience by believing in some sort of higher power.

Is this not what people do today?  The great majority of people believe in God, but if “God” is defined by the way the Bible defines it, far less believe in Him.  They don’t believe in a God who punishes for sin or requires obedience from people.  People do this with the Bible as well.  Instead of reading to find out what the Bible means, they say, “this is what it means to me.”  They change the Bible rather than letting it change them. When it comes to the church, the story is same.  If people will change God and His word to fit what they want, what is to stop them from changing His church?  If they think the church should be a social club, then they will try to change it into that.  If they think the church should be an entertainment center, then they will try to mold it into that.  People fashion God, the Bible, His church and everything else in their religion into an image they desire just like Aaron fashioned the metal into a calf to worship.

So, the next time you wonder why those in the Bible were so tempted by idolatry consider all the false religion that is fashioned to please man in our day.  Those who are saved are the ones who conform to the image of Jesus the Son of God (Romans 8:29), not those who try to conform Jesus into their own preferred image.

Jesus said in John 7:17, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”  The first “will” in this verse conveys the idea of desire; thus, Jesus is affirming if a man desires or wills to do God’s will, then he will know what God’s will is.

There are many today who say that the Bible cannot be understood.  They point to the great variety of conflicting ideas people have about certain Bible subjects to try to prove their point.  Though, many very educated people differ in their views of certain scriptures, Jesus’ words still ring true.  A person who has a desire and determination to do what is right will be able to know what is right. The problem of conflict is not with the Bible, but with the hearts of those who interpret the Bible.

In Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower, He describes the good ground in Luke 8:15: “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”  Jesus points out those who hear God’s word and keep it have honest and good hearts. Honesty is essential for arriving at the true meaning of God’s word.  Sadly, it is sometimes the case that people dismiss the Bible as confusing because they do not want to do what it says.  They are looking in the Bible for something that will justify how they live rather than looking for how they should live.  Their motives are not pure and honest; therefore, they do not properly interpret God’s word.  R. L. Whiteside wrote on page 72 of his commentary on Romans, “When a person studies the Scriptures for any other purpose than to know God and to be able to do his will, there is no telling what sort of absurd conclusions he may arrive at.”

You can understand the Bible.  Paul expected those in Ephesus to whom he wrote to be able to understand, “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:3-4). The Bible is revelation from God to us; the very definition of the word revelation means that understanding is being imparted. God in His power and understanding can produce a book that the humans he created can understand. He has and it can be understood today even centuries later.

Daniel could read the book of Jeremiah years after it was written and understand that the captivity would last 70 years (Dan. 9:2). Centuries after God gave the law through Moses, Ezra could seek out its meaning, practice it in his life, and impart his understanding to others (Ezra 7:10). Nehemiah 8:2 describes the work of Ezra: “So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month.” Jesus expected men in the first century to understand what Daniel had to say concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)” (Matthew 24:15).  God expects us to read and understand His will, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).