The Lord FIRST

Deuteronomy 13:6–9 (ESV) “If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 some of the gods of the peoples who are around you, whether near you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other, 8 you shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him. 9 But you shall kill him. Your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people.

This passage sounds a lot like the words of Jesus who said:

Luke 14:26–27 (ESV) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Why does God require such absolute devotion that even the closest relationships come second? And here in Deuteronomy notice the Old Testament stipulation of being the first person to put that sorcery-loving family member to death. Harsh and strong words, right?

Not if God is the LORD. By enunciating this to Israel God was establishing that no relationship could ever come before Him and the people. God is over all and Lord of all. He is worthy our absolute commitment because He is life itself. 

Israel here was becoming the first nation that would realize that even close-knit relationships could become a dangerous thing. It happens between parents and children in a large way today. Parents even inadvertently claim they are serving God by allowing their children to run rampant and then they subsidize it. 

The issue here is clear. Any relationship can become so important that they lead us way from God who is the author and source of life. We cannot allow a relationship to cause us to compromise our commitment to Christ. We cannot allow a family member or their opinion of us be more important than the love of God for us and in us. And don't you think the devil would love to use an innocent and loving family relationship to take us away from God. 

Eli will exhibit this later on in the Bible. His sons would not honor God. And yet Eli would not put them to death. He allowed them to sleep with women in the temple and take the best offerings for themselves and Eli only chastised them, he never truly punished them. It lead to his downfall and his house was brought to an end in Israel. 

Family is important. The scriptures teach us to train our children, honor and obey our parents, watch after our siblings, and provide for our immediate family. YET... they cannot be "God" to us. There is only ONE LORD, ONE SOVEREIGN. There is only ONE who gives us life and breath. 

Notice the phrase in verse 8: "Nor shall you conceal him." It's interesting how often we cover up an idolatrous relationship. We become complicit with the idolater if we do not expose them and what they are trying to do to our hearts. God wants His people to be totally intolerant of any relationship that starts putting His love and purposes on the back burner for any of His children. He does this for our good, for our longevity, for our success. The God who saves us is the only God worth TOTALLY serving.