Christian Stress Management: Devotional: You shall not have other gods

You shall not have other gods. (Exodus 20:3)

This is the first commandment and it tells us that God expects us to have Him as our only God.

Breaking this commandment has serious consequences because when the Israelites were in the wilderness and God called Moses up to the mountain for 40 days, the Israelites told Aaron to make gods for them. (Exodus 32:1)

He took their gold earrings and made them into a calf. He also built an altar before it and they offered offerings to it. (Exodus 32:5) The Israelites proclaimed, "This is your god who brought you out of Egypt." (Exodus 32:4)

These actions displeased God for He told Moses, “Let My anger destroy them and I will make you into a great nation.” (Exodus 32:9) However, Moses pleaded with God on behalf of the Israelites and He did not destroy all of them even though some were killed by a plague and others by those who were on God's side (Exodus 32:25-35).

Therefore do not anger God by looking for solutions to your problems from other gods. Look up to Him only because Jehovah God is your healer, your provider, your protector and He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than you can ever ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)