B

Baal

The Old Testament references the idol Baal 90 times. Evil queen Jezebel introduced Baal worship to Israel. It was a vile, ugly, false god. Why did so many people worship such a monstrosity?

When God created us, He made us in His own image and wired us for worship. Therefore, everyone everywhere desires to worship something. If we’re not giving worship to Jehovah—the one true God—we’ll worship something else. Again, that’s simply how we’re made.

Looking at this ugly statue of Baal, you’re probably not tempted to worship
it. It’s repugnant.
Ghastly.
Hideous.
Offensive.
Creepy.
Gruesome.
Revolting.

But what if Baal looked like an Olympian gold medalist?

Or a mile-high stack of 100-dollar-bills?
Or a shiny speed boat?
Or a mansion on 50 acres of prime land?

You get where I’m headed, don’t you?
Satan masquerades himself as an angel of light (see 2 Corinthians 11:14).

I’m guessing none of us are tempted to worship an ugly statue.
But if our guard isn’t up (see Ephesians 6:10-18), we can easily be duped.

Idols have many names today.
Baal is no longer one of them.

But the danger and deception are just the same.
“Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.”
(Proverbs 4:23 NIV).