Contemplative Bible Reading

Leviticus 20: 2b-5 (New Living Translation)

“If any of them offer their children as a sacrifice to Molech, they must be put to death. The people of the community must stone them to death. 3 I myself will turn against them and cut them off from the community, because they have defiled my sanctuary and brought shame on my holy name by offering their children to Molech. 4 And if the people of the community ignore those who offer their children to Molech and refuse to execute them, 5 I myself will turn against them and their families and will cut them off from the community. This will happen to all who commit spiritual prostitution by worshiping Molech.

God is talking to the people through Moses. God is talking about idolatry, the worship or adoration of anything or anyone other than God Himself, including images, created beings, or even worldly possessions. (Google’s Gemini provided this definition)

The worshiper of Molech says, “I believe that the god Molech will provide good things for me. To earn these blessings from Molech, I must kill my children. I will sacrifice my children in exchange for blessings from Molech.” The worshiper of Molech does as promised.

This is real idolatry. I often hear well-meaning people speak of the worship of money or a job or something as idolatry. I don’t see people killing their children at the altar of money or the altar of the job. No offense folks, but I don’t consider those things idolatry. I see them as terribly misguided priorities, but not worship and sacrifice.