Bible Reading Blog
“There is No Other Besides Him”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 4
This week at a conference, Pope Francis stated: “Religions are seen as paths trying to reach God. I will use an analogy: They are like different languages that express the divine…” (The Catholic World Report, September 13, 2024). The pope is a man of significant influence, and this has sent shockwaves around the world. After all, Jesus would plainly state that there is only one way to the Father (John 14.6). I understand the pope is just a man, but this false belief is being propagated at the highest levels of religion. Perhaps the notion is not completely off-base. After all, Paul would commend the Athenians for their altar to the ‘unknown god’ (Acts 17.23)—they were ignorantly trying to cover their bases!—but he would not coddle their ignorance. “The times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17.30).
Although we believe God has no rival, he has always cared about his people recognizing this preeminent position relative to other gods in this world. Hence the first commandment: you shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20.3; Deuteronomy 5.7). As Moses began his final address to Israel, he challenged them to consider this with a series of questions:
“For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.” (Deuteronomy 4.32-36)
For these people, YHWH was not an abstract character of legend. They had witnessed his power and providence as he dwelt among them in the wilderness. What other god, in all of history, has behaved in this way, choosing and loving his people? The answer is obvious. YHWH did things no other god could do. But it wasn’t just an ego trip or random displays of power. These were acts of mercy were instructive in teaching his people how to enter the promised land and to be a witness to the world (Deuteronomy 4.6, 9-14).
There are thousands of versions of “God” floating around our world today. Quite frankly most of them have common attributes deemed as important in the minds of men: power, immortality, expectation, etc. But we must appreciate there is ONE God who must be represented totally and properly. He has no physical form and must not be manipulated to our liking (Deuteronomy 4.12-19; [28]). He is utterly righteous and just; a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4.24; Hebrews 12.24). But he is merciful, wishing that none should perish but that all should reach repentance (Deuteronomy 4.31; 2 Peter 3.9).
Our duty is to make God properly known in this world. Like Israel, we do this through obedience to his rules and to his mission (Deuteronomy 4.1-2, 6). We are ambassadors to the God of reconciliation through the saving blood of Jesus Christ our Savior. There is no other besides him.
