Baal-worship and The
Long Delay
Recently a group
of school children came to the campus of Andrews University and made a
tour of the newly refurbished Horn Archaeological Museum. They came away
very impressed. More than one was intrigued by the ancient enemy of
Israel after-seeing the image of Baal on display. One child said,
"I really liked the image of Baal, he’s just so skinny."
Another child said, "I really liked ... that miniature figure of
Baal."1 Not only children have been fascinated by this
false God. The idol of Baal; the worship of Baal; and the subtle
far-reaching influence of Baal has held the children of men in sad
secret bondage throughout all the ages.
History tells us
that the devious path of Baal-worship leads back to the Garden of Eden.
Of course there was no actual image set up in that beautiful place, but
that in itself is a part of the delusion that we have inherited. The
last thing anyone needs for Baal-worship is an actual image of Baal.
Visible evidence
of the deep seated enmity towards God began to be seen very soon after
the Eden episode. The record says the world’s first city was founded
by the world’s first murderer. It was Cain who "builded a city
and called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch"
(Genesis 4:17). Men began to praise men and build monuments to
themselves. Cain had little confidence in God’s assurance of
protection. His faith would be put in the works of man, the splendor of
buildings, the protection of stone walls. The root of this counterfeit
allegiance, the mystical delusion of Baal-worship was established when
the holy pair in Eden called in question the word-of the Lord.
"Hath God
said," was the sinister insinuation of the serpent which laid the
foundation for the great controversy in this world. There followed the
fateful nibble of the forbidden fruit which has until now shackled the
human race in depravity. On the surface this may appear not to have
anything to do with Baal-worship. But the work of the enemy has always
been shrouded in mystery and darkness. We must pursue this.
Even the heroes
of faith who hold places of esteem in the sacred record testify to the
duplicity of human nature and rarely does spiritual triumph stand
untarnished because of either open or secret Baal-worship. The wisdom,
love and justice of God made provision to overcome every vestige of this
false allegiance. The promise is that the time would come when the
Israel of God would understand the terrible sin of Baal-worship, and
"then shall the sanctuary be cleansed" (Dan. 8:14). In this
positive pronouncement is good news. It proclaims that
a process is envisaged that will free forever mankind as well as God
Himself who will stand separated and cleansed from the stigma of sin.
Baal-worship
Over the Centuries |