The One and Only

May 4

Read: Exodus 18

The One and Only

“Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods…” (v.10,11)

When do you think the people of Israel figured out that there actually are NO OTHER gods besides the Lord? In the ancient world, people thought of their gods as being attached to them as a people or tribe and they would describe the world around them in terms of their god facing other gods. We see this in Jethro, Moses’ father in-law, when he responds to Moses: “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods…” (v.11) There is a subtle difference between saying your god is better then another god and recognizing THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD IN THE UNIVERSE… there are NO OTHER REAL gods… just GOD… YHWH… The Triune God of the bible.

God consistently describes his relationship to his people in terms of a marriage. (cf. Jer. 3:14, Jer. 31:32, Is. 54:5) What can be misunderstood in this is the idea that God is simply “one of many” potential options for us to be married to. The truth is there are no other real, living, actual options. It is as if a man and a woman were the last two people on earth, and the man rejects the woman because he thinks he is going to marry Princes Leah or a female character from his favorite book! There is no other real, true, living option… there is only ONE GOD. Anything and everything that exists comes from HIM. He holds EVERYTHING together:

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col. 1:15-17)

“…he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Heb. 1:3)

“The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,

the world and those who dwell therein,

for he has founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.” (Psalm 24:1,2)

God reigns in authority over all things and is the only TRUE, REAL, and LIVING GOD. Zeus is not real. Buddha is not real. Allah is not real. Brahman is not real. Shiva is not real. There is only one God… and everything else that is… it was and is created by him, and for him, and is held together in him. When we “marry” ourselves to anyone or anything other them him (so to speak) we have bought into a lie. It is not just that God is greater than all gods… or a good pick among many… it is that he is the one and only.

I think it took the people of God a while to figure this out. I think it may be why some people “date” God for a while thinking that maybe there is another “option” out there… like they are going to find another god that is better. There are no other gods… just false gods… idols… imposters… things that pretend to be god but are not.

Satan is NOT a god… he is a created being held together by Christ and will one day be punished! He has to answer to God. We answer to God as well. God has called us his children and made us HIS PEOPLE. We know now that not only is he “our god” but in fact he is the ONLY God and he LOVES US AS HIS CHILDREN. Any other power that comes against us is INFERIOR. Any other imposter that comes to draw us away is a FAKE. It is like an email scam…like a phishing scam… like Manti Te’o falling for a woman that is not even real and sending them money or thinking they are going to go on a date. These other gods are fake. And just like a phishing scam on the internet, the ones behind these siren calls are seeking to rob you and destroy your life! Don't get scammed!

My Prayer: God… you are not just one of many options… you are the ONLY ONE! Open our eyes, minds, and hearts to know you and embrace the love you have given us as your sons and daughters. All these other offers… these other false gods… they are not real. There is an enemy in this world that hides behind these other “gods”… one who pretends to be a competing “god” with you… but in the end HE IS NOT! Like a scam artist, the father of lies hides behind all these other fronts… scams… and seeks to lure us in. Open our eyes to YOU! What else is there in this universe? Nothing apart from YOU! You are the one and only. You are the G.O.A.T ! (Greatest of all time) Or should I say the G.O.A.O.O.A.T! (Greatest one and only of all time) We need not fear these false gods… this imposters… these scam artist. We are the children of the one true God! Love you guys. - JDP