Put That False Prophet To Death
If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if that sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, "Let us follow other gods" . . . "and let us worship them," you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
. . . That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
. . . If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" . . . You must certainly put them to death. Your hand must be the first in putting them to death . . . Stone them to death, because they tried to turn you away from the LORD your God . . . Deuteronomy 13:1-10
. . . That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
. . . If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" . . . You must certainly put them to death. Your hand must be the first in putting them to death . . . Stone them to death, because they tried to turn you away from the LORD your God . . . Deuteronomy 13:1-10
God is big on loyalty and He expects the same from us. He has vowed never to leave nor forsake us. He promises that even if our own mother forgets and forsakes us, He will never forget us because He has engraved us on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:15).
This is a picture of unrelenting love. Love that is unmovable; love that can never be quenched under any circumstances.
This is the kind of love that caused God to redeem His children out of slavery in Egypt, as He fought for His children with signs and wonders, bringing the mighty Egyptian army to its knees in utter defeat. This is the kind of love that caused God to sacrifice His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die and save us from our sins. God paid the ultimate price to reconcile us to Himself. God's love is measureless and priceless. God's love for us is the ultimate!
That is the basis of God's uncompromising stand in asking His children to put to death any person or thing who would entice us to be disloyal to the God who redeemed us from the bondage of sin and the clutches of Satan. That person, be it a prophet, a blood brother, a son, a daughter, one's own dear wife or closest friend must die! Nothing should come between you and God!
So, God is simply saying to us: Kill off anything that takes first place in your life over me. Never allow anything in your life to become your god. That thing or person must certainly not be allowed to entice away your heart and loyalty to the God who loves you so dearly and is completely loyal to you.
Question: Is there anything that has taken first place over God in your life? Maybe your job, business, career, or family? These are all good things. But, have you consciously decided that none of those things will replace your loyalty to God? Put that false prophet to death before it enlarges in life and destroys your relationship with God.
This is a picture of unrelenting love. Love that is unmovable; love that can never be quenched under any circumstances.
This is the kind of love that caused God to redeem His children out of slavery in Egypt, as He fought for His children with signs and wonders, bringing the mighty Egyptian army to its knees in utter defeat. This is the kind of love that caused God to sacrifice His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die and save us from our sins. God paid the ultimate price to reconcile us to Himself. God's love is measureless and priceless. God's love for us is the ultimate!
That is the basis of God's uncompromising stand in asking His children to put to death any person or thing who would entice us to be disloyal to the God who redeemed us from the bondage of sin and the clutches of Satan. That person, be it a prophet, a blood brother, a son, a daughter, one's own dear wife or closest friend must die! Nothing should come between you and God!
So, God is simply saying to us: Kill off anything that takes first place in your life over me. Never allow anything in your life to become your god. That thing or person must certainly not be allowed to entice away your heart and loyalty to the God who loves you so dearly and is completely loyal to you.
Question: Is there anything that has taken first place over God in your life? Maybe your job, business, career, or family? These are all good things. But, have you consciously decided that none of those things will replace your loyalty to God? Put that false prophet to death before it enlarges in life and destroys your relationship with God.
Prayer: Lord, please help me to be completely loyal to you. Let me always put you first. Amen.