TEACHING NOTES Introduction In this series, we have been learning about the other gods in the Bible. Learning about these gods are important because it is part of the Bible that is often missed, but also because these gods are enemies of humanity. Understanding the enemy is key to fighting against the enemy. These gods hate humanity and want to lead us into destruction. Series Overview: 1. Other gods? 2. Ba’al – Immorality 3. Asherah – Gender Confusion 4. Molech – Death 5. Mammon – Materialism 6. The Satan – Deception 7. YHWH – The Most High 8. The End of the gods ‌ Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ‌ Psalm 96:4–5 4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are demons, but the LORD made the heavens. ‌ The other gods are real spirits created by Yahweh who rebelled, became counterfeit gods, and seek to lead humanity into destruction. ‌ Who is Molech? Ancient texts tell us Molech: - Ruler in the underworld (Sheol/Hades) - Associated with the Rephaim - Associated with snake charming - Deity in Ashtaroth, Bashan (serpent place) - Famous for child sacrifice What does God say about Molech? Leviticus 18:21–23 “21 You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. 22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. 23 And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.” ‌ Offer to Molech = The Hebrew phrase here indicates a sacrifice in which something is burned on an altar. Yahweh commands His people to never sacrifice any children as an offering. ‌ Profane the name of your God = The Israelites were in covenant with God, which means that they carry or represent the name of Yahweh in the world. Israel was intended to be a light to the other nations who were enslaved to the other gods. If Israel was unfaithful by worshiping other gods, they would profane or misuse God’s name. ‌ Why are sexual acts mentioned? = The Bible repeatedly associates idolatry with sexual immorality. This indicates that sexual immorality was included in the worship of other gods. In this passage, homosexual acts and sexual acts with animals are connected to the worship of Molech. ‌ Abomination = Heb. toebah - detestable, repulsive. An abomination can be understood as the exact opposite of what is good or as the opposite of God’s standard. ‌ Perversion = Heb. tebel - confusion, disgraceful. A perversion is taking something created for good and changing it into something evil. In this context, sex was created by God to for unity in marriage and for the procreation of life. When sex is used outside of marriage it is a perversion of God’s design and intention. ‌ Leviticus 20:1–3 1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name.” ‌ Leviticus 20:4–5 “4 And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, 5 then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech.” ‌ Explanation: Not only were the Israelites commanded to never sacrifice their children to Molech, they were also commanded to never allow this practice to exist in Israel. The nation who allows child sacrifice would be “cut off” from the family of God. Here’s a sobering question: If God allowed His own nation (Israel) to be destroyed for being complicit in child sacrifice, why would we think that our own nation is safe from the same judgment? ‌ Did Israel allow child sacrifice? ‌ 1 Kings 11:7–8 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. 8 And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods. ‌ Solomon = Solomon was one of the sons of king David and was the last king of the unified nation of Israel. While David was faithful to Yahweh, Solomon began worshiping other gods. ‌ High place = This refers to places of worship. In the ancient world it was believed that the gods live on mountains. Therefore, high places were built so the gods would come down. ‌ Abomination = Heb. shiqqus - detestable, abhorrent, filthy ‌ Mountain east of Jerusalem = This is the Mount of Olives, which was visible from the courts of Yahweh’s temple. ‌ He did this for all his foreign wives = Solomon’s worship of other gods was a result of having multiple wives from other nations. Yahweh commanded Israel’s kings to never have multiple wives nor acquire riches (Deut. 17:17). Solomon broke both of these commands. His wives led him into idolatry and Molech was one of the gods they worshiped. In other words, the sin of killing children followed the sin of sexual immorality. ‌ Jeremiah 32:35 “35 They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.” ‌ Valley of Hinnom = The valley is located on the west side of Jerusalem. The Greek term for this valley is Geenna, which in English is Gehenna. This is the same valley in which the bodies of dead Israelites were thrown and burned after Babylon conquered Jerusalem. Afterward, Gehenna became a metaphor for hell—the final destination of the wicked. ‌ I did not command them = Obviously, Yahweh (the Creator of life) never commanded anyone to do these awful practices. Our God presents death as the result of sin and was not His intention for humanity. ‌ Nor did it enter my mind = This practice of child sacrifice is so horrible that God says it never even entered His mind. This is God’s way of saying that this is the most evil practice imaginable. ‌ What were the consequences for Israel? ‌ Jeremiah 32:36 36 Now therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, “It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence” ‌ Is Molech still around today? ‌ The Cult-ure of Death: - Abortion “reproductive healthcare” - Child Sterilization “gender-affirming care” - Physician-Assisted Suicide “end-of-life care” - Population Control “environmental preservation” ‌ What will God do about death? ‌ Isaiah 25:6–9 6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. 7 And He will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. ‌ 8 He will swallow up death forever; and the LORD God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. 9 It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” ‌ Revelation 21:1–2 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ‌ Revelation 21:3–4 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ‌ John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” ‌ How to Respond Prayer: Ask God to reveal what needs to change. Repentance: Agree with God and repent of sin. Worship: Thank God for what He is doing in you. Communion: Take Christ in and renew faithfulness.