Page 122 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self, ruled by the flesh, was put off when you
were circumcised by Christ (Col. 2:11).” We might ponder God’s timing. Why did he wait for so many
years and generations to pass? (Check out Paul’s answer in Ephesians 1:8-10; 3:2-6; etc.) Yet our
pondering should not diminish our joy in his change in us, a change that Old Testament saints could only
dream about and long for.

The second commandment (12:1-31) commands Israel to destroy all the places for worship already in
existence in the Promised Land. They are to “break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and
burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from
those places (12:3).” Idolatry could not be tolerated.

The focus is more positive than negative.
Yes, they were not to worship the Lord
following the methods of the nations,
instead were to worship him in a specific
place that he would choose. His name
would be placed on his dwelling.
Sacrifices would be offered only there.
Notice how often mention is made of a
specific place and especially a “place God
chooses to put his name” (12:4, 5, 6, 7,
11, 13, 14, 18, 21, 26, 28). Yahweh
wanted to stamp out the worship of
other gods. They used detestable
practices in their worship like sacrificing
their sons and daughters in the fire to
their gods. Yahweh said, “NO! I am not Fig. 79: Alternate worship site at Dan, 930 B.C.
like that. You do not need to sacrifice to
get my attention. I take the initiative and provide for you.”

Not until the NT is this prohibition lifted. In conversation with a woman of Samaria, Jesus spoke of a
“time coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem (John 4:21).”
Location would no longer be a problem and temptation. The Father would be gathering to himself
people who worship “in spirit and in truth” (4:23) because the Holy Spirit would live in them (4:14).
Worshipers in OT times were called to worship at the tabernacle and then at the temple to avoid the
worship of idols and the spirit beings behind those idols.

The third commandment (13:1-14:27) is expanded in chapters 13 and 14. They contain examples of
what it means to misuse God’s name. Chapter 13 warns about false prophets. Their goal is to entice a
person to worship other gods (v. 2), and YHWH’s goal is to test his people to make them stronger (v. 3).
The people must choose God every time, even if the false teaching comes from brother or son or wife or
closest friend (v. 6). The same is required when an entire town has turned from God. It is to be
destroyed (v. 15-16). Claiming to know God and love God but to allow false prophets to lead people
away from him calls into question one’s true love of God.

The next commands are about funeral practices (14:1-2) and animals a person may eat (14:3-21). We
have already read in Leviticus about clean and unclean animals. We might scratch our heads about why
the laws are placed here. We might also wonder why these animals are called “detestable” (14:3). The

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