The contract spelled out the terms. 5.7 million dollars for 64,000 acres (that’s roughly the size of Orlando). Somewhere in small print it read “to establish a small agricultural community.” But the Rajneesh had a much more ambitious plan in mind than farming.

You wouldn’t be impressed if you looked at them. Honestly, nothing stood out besides their bright orange and red clothing. Their community had the look and feel of a hippy gathering. They sported long, shaggy hair. They loved to hug, sing, laugh, and kiss—lots of PDA. Their gathering resembled a Woodstock reunion. But the Rajneesh weren’t hippies. And this meeting wasn’t about making music.   

They named themselves after their beloved leader, Indian mystic Bhagwan Rajneesh. He sent them to America with simple instructions: find a permanent dwelling place for the movement. Settle. Build. Thrive. He wanted to show the world what humanity was capable of. He spoke of an “awakened man” and lamented how humanity failed to reach its true potential. He called for a new, united community—a paradise in the plains of Oregon. 

Master engineers met with architects to design the layout. Lawyers drew up contracts and incorporated the ranch into a city so they could dodge red tape. The plan was impressive. The sheer effort required to build a city from the ground up was intimidating. But the Rajneesh had everything they needed—including 4,000 workers and free labor.  

The speed of construction astonished the world. The people worked tirelessly, often through the night. Everyone contributed. Doctors, lawyers, professors, everyone rolled up their sleeves and got busy. Through unity, ambition and devotion, a bustling town emerged. Rajneeshpuram was born. And they made quite a name for themselves, which was their goal all along.  

Organization? The city featured a fire department, police force, and post office. Recreation? It sported beauty salons, discos and restaurants. Transportation? It boasted a Mass transit system including an airstrip, 2 lear jets, and 85 school busses. A water treatment facility, dam and customized power station ensured drinkable water and clean power. They even built a hotel to house traveling admirers. Their city had everything—or so they thought.   

Their plan was to settle, unite, build, and thrive. To find freedom and leave a legacy. Instead, they found failure—and eventually, disgrace. Big problems emerged at the Big Muddy Ranch. 

Rumors circulated of illegal activity. Assassination plots, voter fraud, food poisoning. Investigations were launched and their paradise began to unravel, one allegation at a time. There were reports of attempted murders and forced sterilizations. The Wasco County Planning Department mysteriously burst into flames. That was just the beginning: an arms race, biological warfare, espionage, drugs, sexual deviancy, and the biggest immigration fraud case in U.S. history.  

So much for a peaceful utopia. Accusations continued to pour in, crushing the city’s morale. Tales of violence, perversion and greed surfaced. Illegal wire-tapping, sedating unwanted residents and dropping them off in a nearby town. Their leader, Baghwan came under federal investigation. The National Guard raided the city. Multiple arrests were made. Leaders fled. Followers scattered. Baghwan was deported to India. Paradise lost.   

Finally, in 1986 the city of Rajneeshpuram, now valued at over 120 million dollars filed for bankruptcy. With unfinished plans and a population of 7,000 disenfranchised residents, their work ceased and they left their dream in the desert behind. It began as a united, ambitious, religious new humanity. It ended as a monument to failure, pride, and deception. Why? Because God was nowhere in their plans.  

Are we surprised at Rajneeshpuram’s collapse? Not hardly. As we all know, history repeats itself. This wasn’t the first failed city on record. Which brings us to Genesis 11 and Babel. 

You know the story. One people. One language. One goal: to make a name for themselves. It was narcissism at its worst.    

Noah’s offspring were just as self-centered and wayward as Adam’s. God told them to multiply, fill the earth, explore the globe and exercise dominion. Simple orders: Scatter and replenish. Instead, they settled and built. Brazen defiance that led to God’s intervention, that made Rosetta Stone™ a lot of money. 

The account is amazing. Just 9 verses but packed full of rich theology and just as relevant and practical today as it was when Moses wrote it. My goal here is simple. I want to help you avoid a major pitfall we make when reading this passage—and others like it: reading ourselves right out of the story.  

According to Jewish legend, the plan for the Tower of Babel was carried out by 600,000 men who worked steadily for 43 years. The Tower reached so great a height (9 miles) that it took a year to hoist up fresh building materials to the top.

Here’s a quote: “They never slackened in their work. From their dizzy height they constantly shot arrows toward heaven which, returning, were seen to be covered with blood. They were thus fortified in their delusion, crying, “We have slain all in heaven!” 

Now why would intelligent Jewish scholars allow a bogus legend like that to circulate? Follow me here… 

We all tend to put a lot of distance between our lives and the ancient builders of this infamous city. I collect Children’s Bibles—I especially love the ones with detailed artwork. I’ve seen some pretty far-fetched illustrations of this event. The builders are made to look like monsters. Sharp teeth, angry, arched eyebrows, and clinched fists. I can tolerate the bad art. But the bad theology bothers me.   

It seems the only way we can comprehend human beings carrying out such an insanely rebellious scheme against God is to give them fangs. Because only a monster would dare build a city—or a life—without God at the center, right? Surely these are rapists, serial killers, pedophiles, terrorists, your every-day menace-to-society crowd. Radically high-ranking sinners in a league of their own.    

Do you see what’s happened? We’ve shielded ourselves from this kind of fallen potential. If we’re not careful, we’ll look at all the sharp teeth, blood-soaked arrows, clinched fists and angry faces…and we’ll read ourselves right out of the story. 

What we see at Babel is simple. Humanity organized and mobilized without God. Unity, ambition, and devotion—but godless. We can spot their rebellion with ease. We may even scoff at the futility of their plans. Sin makes you stupid. It’s true. But it also makes you blind, oblivious to the bricks and mortar in your own hands and the tiny tower you’re constructing.         

I’ll wager that our kinfolks at Babel were probably just as giddy and excited as the people of Rajneeshpuram. Laughing. Singing. Hugging. Working long hours. Remember, they were united and devoted. Lots of ambition at Babel. Delusional? Without a doubt. But delusional people can unite and accomplish some history-shaping goals—even if those goals are malicious. Remember when the Jews, Romans, Scribes, and Pharisees got together in Jerusalem and made history? (Acts 4:27-28). That’s unity—apart from God. Which is always unity against God.   

The reason this particular sin “so easily overtakes us” is because it cloaks itself. For example, take a look at how the Psalmist describes the mind of a wicked person.   

“The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God. God is in none of His thoughts” (Ps. 10:4). Another translation reads, “In all his thoughts, there is no room for God.”

Don’t miss what the psalmist is doing. He is explaining wickedness in terms of God being squeezed out of our lives. He’s been replaced by lesser things. On the outside, life appears normal. But when the mind encounters the thought of God a “no vacancy” sign lights up.     

One of the most shocking—but easily missed—statements Jesus made was his description of the generations of Noah and Lot. Before a flood reshaped the earth and heavenly fire melted Sodom & Gomorrah, Noah and Lot were surrounded by what we would consider a notoriously sinful culture. 

But Jesus did not describe those generations in terms of the outrageous sins they committed. Instead, he painted a picture of life that resembles America in 2018. People going about their business, building their lives without God. Check it out: 

“They were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage…buying and selling, planting and building…” (Luke 17:26-30) Do you see it? “In all his thoughts…no room for God.” It’s enough to make one ask, “Is it I, Lord?” And that’s the point, really.  

What Jesus was describing, and what we see at Babel, is idolatry. Call them monsters if you want. Distance yourself from them. Imagine the characters with scary faces. But remember this: what we consider “monsters” are really just wayward “worshipers.” Idolatry is worship gone astray. 

We’re always worshiping. There is never a time when human beings are not religiously devoting themselves to something. When we sin, worship does not stop. It changes directions. In fact, one of the primary Greek terms the New Testament uses for sin (hamartia) means to “miss the mark.” Sin is mis-aiming your worship. The builders at Babel hit the bullseye, but on the wrong target. And so do we.

There’s more here. If we dig deep, this story can help us find and face our own godless ambition. It turns out the reason these builders united was to escape mediocrity, insignificance, an unaccomplished life. Fear gnawed at them, finally driving them to action. Underneath it all, they wanted a name for themselves. The thought of being nameless nomads roaming across the globe unsettled them. They felt vulnerable. They wanted identity and security. That sounds awfully American to me.  

The irony is that God—in the very next chapter—promises those very things to Abraham. “I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” See it? Identity and security. Both of them untouchable because they come from God. Which also makes them unattainable without help. Gifts of grace. The identity God offers us is received, not achieved. We’re saved by divine accomplishment, not human effort.     

The real kicker, if you’re a Genesis nerd, is to consider the very likely scenario that Abraham was part of the original Babel construction crew. An idolater like the rest of them. God’s grace shines everywhere in Genesis. Perhaps God found and called Abraham at precisely the point he was frustrated, exhausted and hopeless from the failed experiment at Babel. 

Aren’t you glad God makes the same offer to us today in the Gospel? One of the most beautiful invitations from Jesus comes from Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

Only God can give you a name that lasts and a city that endures. It doesn’t reach up from earth. It comes down from heaven. This story is not simply a warning to unbelievers. It’s a reminder to Christians. Don’t go making mud pies in the slums when God has offered you a holiday at the sea. Your quest for significance apart from Jesus will lead to shame and chaos. 

 I read that Babel once meant “Gateway to God.” Now it represents a place of sin, confusion, and shame—a place of failure and judgment. You won’t find God at the top of your tower. You’ll only find frustration, fatigue, and failure. We don’t climb up to God. He comes down to us. 

If you want to climb up and meet God, the only hill to scale is Calvary. You’ll find death there—the death of human ambition and religion. But you’ll also find freedom, life, and true rest. 

So leave the puny tower building to those who can’t fathom what we have as children of God. Instead, rehearse the mind-blowing gifts you’ve already been given in Christ. 

You’re His! And He is yours—forever! That’s the only identity and security you’ll ever need. You can build your life on that truth. And it will never collapse.

The command is to STOP doing something. In this case, stop being anxious. Cease and desist. Don’t do that. Now think with me here: If you’re an anxious person, does that help? It never helped me, and often intensified my anxiety if I’m being truthful.  

The stakes rise though, because the verse goes on to say, “about anything.” Not only am I commanded not to be anxious, but I’m given a blanket prohibition on that anxiety. Don’t be anxious about anything. Not my job. Not my health. Not my safety. Not my bank account. Not my relationships. Not the economy. Not my sick cat. Nothing. 

In the past I’ve found great comfort in the next part of that passage. Maybe you have too. It says, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” 

But another pesky observation here. That’s another command. So here’ the gist. Stop being anxious—about anything—and get busy praying—about everything. Stop with the worrying and start with the praying. The rest is just an elaboration on how to pray and what kind of prayers to offer. But it’s all one extended command…until the last statement, which comes as a promise. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Now that’s more like it. God’s peace falling on me; entering me, actually. Guarding my heart and mind in Christ. That’s powerful. It’s what we call a conditional promise. Pray, and you’ll find peace. 

Time for a truth bomb, folks. I’ve experienced times of great anxiety where prayer did not come easy—if at all. So that “conditional” promise seemed far away. And I felt powerless. I could not meet the condition to “pray about everything” so peace eluded me. 

Now let me get to the good stuff. We missed something in that verse. Verse numbers in the Bible were of course added later and are not inspired. And they are great helpers. But sometimes they get in the way. That’s the case in this passage. If you back up to the middle of verse 5, you unearth an unconditional promise. It’s a promise, not with teeth, but with hands that lift you up to Christ. Or better yet, it brings Christ down to you. Here it is: “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything.” See it? Feel it? The Lord is at hand. Some people take that as a reference to Jesus coming back. It’s not. “At hand” is not a chronological reference. It’s a spacial reference. Winter is at hand (that’s chronological). My cat is at hand (that’s spacial). “The Lord is near” is a better rendering. His nearness puts my anxiety in perspective.    

Now…how does that promise land on you—that unconditional promise that reminds you of the finished work of Jesus on your behalf? God’s promises can annihilate anxiety. The Lord is near. How near is He? He’s right here. Right now. In you. And you are in Him. In Christ. There’s the nuclear warhead for anxiety.

There’s the peace of God. There’s the fuel for prayer. There’s the antidote for anxiety. And there’s the gospel. God with us. How? Why? God became a man. He suffered and bled. He died in our place. He rose from the grace. He ascended to heaven. He sent His Holy Spirit. The Lord is at hand. He is here. So you can calm your worried heart. 

You can trace that promise/command relationship through Scripture and find some enlightening promises. Here’s another one. 

“Fear not.” Hear that? Stop being afraid. Get ahold of yourself for crying out loud. What are you so afraid of? Don’t be ridiculous. That’s how the law works. It kills. 

But don’t forget the rest of that verse in Isaiah. “For I am with you.” Glory! Fuel. Power. Promise. The Lord is with you. Therefore…you have nothing to fear. That’s just the Old Testament version of Philippians 4. The Lord is near. Don’t be anxious. God is with you. Don’t be afraid. 

I’ll leave you with some homework. Go find the promises in the New Testament. They are like nuclear easter eggs awaiting your discovery. If you look closely, you’ll find a command nearby. But look for the promise first. That’s the gold. Commands without promises are just empty religion that mocks us. 

But the promises bring us life. And they are all “yes and amen in Jesus.”  

Plot twist! Every post in this blog series has been talking about the same idol. All of them - approval, distraction, control, and comfort - have one thing in common: YOU. 

We idolize approval because we want people to think highly of us. We idolize distraction because we don’t want to face the reality that we aren’t the center of the universe. We idolize control because we believe we can do it best. We idolize comfort because it makes us feel good. 

The core idol behind all idols is the self. There are two ways to exist in this world: Everything revolves around ME. Or everything revolves around GOD. Those are the only two options. Paul Tripp explains it well,

“The spiritual danger here is that when awe of God is absent, it is quickly replaced by our awe for ourselves. If you are not living for God, the only alternative is to live for yourself.” 

Jesus warns us often about the danger of living for ourselves. The following saying is recorded six times in the Gospels, and Jesus said it on at least four different occasions: 

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

This was clearly important to Him. In Luke 9, Jesus connects this statement to another famous teaching: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” When you pick up a cross, where are you going? To your death. Our old self deserves to die! We are glory thieves who operate in rebellion against the reality of God’s good, kind, and powerful reign over all things. 

Here is the mantra of our Old Self: “My desires at the expense of God’s glory.” We spurn the God who created us and sustains us and provides for us and loves us. We are like a toddler asking his dad to pick him up just so he can reach his face to slap it. We have used the very breath God gave us to curse His name. We will never have an accurate view of the gospel if we don’t understand the depths of our sin - just how wicked and offensive and rebellious it is. To be stubbornly self-centered in a God-centered universe. 

THE LIE: My life is about me and for me. I deserve a good life. I have to look out for myself first. If I don’t stick up for myself to get what I want, then no one else will. If everything revolved around me, then I would be happy. 

Anything in us that takes glory from God is the Old Self. Before Christ we were curved in on ourselves. Everything was processed through the filter of our own self-concern. 

The idol of self speaks lies that sound so true and natural to our fallen ears. But the more we look out for #1, the more we are driven away from God and His calling on our life. When we grasp our self-interest with white knuckles, we let go of God’s gifts. 

This includes self-righteous effort! The mentality that we can be good enough on our own is stealing glory from God. Thinking we can earn His favor. Thinking we can impress Him with our discipline and willpower. It’s an offensive thing to God. But when we place our life in His hands in full surrender, His love and grace are ready to wash over us! 

THE GOSPEL: Jesus rescues us from ourselves. Jesus is life. God alone deserves all the glory and honor and praise! 

When we repent of our selfish sin and rebellion; when we die to our flesh; when we lose our Old Self; we actually FIND life for the first time. We are given a New Self. This is the upside-down kingdom! 

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20) 

⁹ “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Col. 3:9-10) 

Old Self mantra: “My desires at the expense of God’s glory.” 

New Self mantra: “God’s glory is my one desire.” When you see the depth of God’s love for you, all you’ll want is for His name to be lifted high. Jesus went through the violence of crucifixion for you and for me. His love was so great He was willing to endure the beating, spitting, and whipping. His love was so great He was willing to let nails drive through His hands and feet. His love was so great He was willing to suffocate in bloody agony. And this was His prayer during His suffering: “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” 

The violence of the cross shows us God’s absolute hatred for sin and His absolutely ferocious love for us. Even as we were stained with sin, God declared worth over us. He gives us our value and identity. 

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) 

So now we live for Him!

Watch a few commercials in 2025 and you’ll soon discover that everyone is selling the same thing: comfort and ease. Have food delivered with the click of a button. Enjoy another binge-worthy Netflix series. Download an app to easily secure a mortgage loan in 3 minutes. Skip the grocery store and order from your phone. Free same-day delivery with Prime. I could go on. 

None of these things are inherently bad. In fact, I think a lot of them are great! Here is where danger can creep in though: instead of enjoying comfort and ease, we begin demanding it. Comfort becomes an idol when we put it in the driver's seat and we start making all decisions based on what will preserve the ease in our lives. 

The messaging of the world gives two different definitions of comfort. We’ll walk through both and provide diagnostic questions to help you determine which one you may struggle with more. 

#1: We’ll call this one “lazy comfort.” The idea is to avoid all pain and all difficulty at all costs. It is an overall unwillingness to do hard things. A sense of entitlement often accompanies this idol - “my needs should be met without me having to become uncomfortable.” In the Proverbs, Solomon speaks to this type of comfort idol: 

¹⁰ “A little sleep, a little slumber, 

a little folding of the hands to rest, 

¹¹ and poverty will come upon you like a robber, 

and want like an armed man.” (Prov. 6:10-11) 

If you don’t think anything is worth discomfort, then you will be unable to provide for yourself and others. 

¹⁴ “As a door turns on its hinges, 

so does a sluggard on his bed. 

¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; 

it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.” (Prov. 26:14-15) 

If you don’t think anything is worth discomfort, then you’ll sleep your life away. If you don’t think anything is worth discomfort, then you’ll never accomplish anything. 

Diagnostic Questions: Do I avoid difficult things even when they are important and necessary? Am I a chronic procrastinator? Do I put forth minimum effort in my responsibilities because it’s too hard or too much?

#2: The second way this idol can be expressed is through “successful comfort.” Instead of being lazy, these people are willing to work hard for their comfort. They reason that being rich is more comfortable than being poor. They have a dream of the good and easy life in their head, and they put in the effort to get there. Solomon’s other wisdom book, Ecclesiastes, speaks to this type of comfort: 

⁴ “I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. ⁵ I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. ⁶ I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. ⁸ I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. 

⁹ So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. ¹⁰ And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.” (Eccl. 2:4-10) 

Solomon worked his tail off to build a life of ultimate comfort and pleasure. He had everything a man could dream of and more. And his heart found some pleasure in this endeavor (v.10). But after spending time reflecting in his comfort, this is his conclusion: 

¹¹ “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” (Eccl. 2:11) 

The highest level of comfort we could imagine here on earth turned out to be empty and useless. Solomon learned that the hard way. And we see many successful people today learn the same lesson. They are rich and comfortable and well taken care of. Yet they are empty and insecure and still searching for something more. 

When Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were at the height of their powers, Brady made an interesting comment in an interview: 

“Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t - this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be . . . ”

Diagnostic Questions: Am I aiming for a perfect ideal of life where I have success and ease? Do I view pain and suffering as the worst possible scenario? Do I believe suffering is worse than meaninglessness and having no purpose?  

Both the lazy and successful versions of comfort will tell us lies. Here is how the idol seeks to deceive us:

THE LIE: Suffering and pain are never worth it. Life is all about achieving perfect mental health and inner peace. Life is supposed to be easy. Whatever feels good is right. If I build a comfortable life, then I will be happy. Comfort is the absence of suffering. 

Jesus never promised us the absence of suffering in this life. On the contrary, He promises the presence of it (John 16:33)! Christians won’t always be comfortable - at least not in the world’s definition of that word. In fact, we will most often be uncomfortable because the world will hate us, we will have trials, and we will always be growing. 

This is why we live based on God’s Word, not based on our feelings or our desire for the easy. Temporary comfort is not strong enough to bring deep, lasting joy. Only Jesus can do that! And that leads us to the good news.

THE GOSPEL: Jesus believed rescuing you was worth His discomfort! He offers us more than comfort - He offers us Himself. 

Lazy comfort. Successful comfort. Third option: Gospel Comfort. 

Comfort is not the absence of something (pain/suffering). Comfort is the presence of something: God! The Bible changes our definition of the word. God doesn’t ask us to stop needing comfort. He asks us to run to Him as He provides it for us. 

We can endure the discomfort Jesus promises in this life because it has a meaning and purpose. What we can’t endure is having no meaning and no purpose. The idol of comfort (lazy or successful) provides no ultimate satisfaction. It leaves us empty. Belonging to God and sharing in His hope will provide everything we need to endure hardship well and say no to the idol of comfort. 

³ “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. ⁶ If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.” (2 Cor. 1:3-7) 

“I can’t change the world, but I can change the world in me.”
- Bono (in 1981) 

Human beings love to be in control. Since the beginning of history, all of us have ignored our obvious smallness and powerlessness, and we’ve tried to wrap our tiny fingers around the control panel of the universe. We all fail at this impossible task, but that doesn’t stop us from trying to gain control in any way we can. Like Bono, our method changes to focusing on a smaller world to control. Our own little bubble. Humans try to gain control in two main areas: 

1.  Control over our identity. 
2. Control over our situation. 

When it comes to identity, we live in a society that encourages us to take the reins. No one has the right to tell us who we are. We get to write our own script. The message has moved beyond “discover who you are” to “create your own identity.” This control over our identity-creation is a heavy burden to bear, but it easily becomes an idol because we love the feeling of importance and freedom and independence it brings. 

But our grab for control doesn’t stop on the inside. We try to control our outer situations as well. Fueled by fear, our thoughts pace through every scenario to give us a sense of preparedness. Fueled by pride, we don’t want to be perceived as powerless in any given circumstance. Fueled by shame, we don’t want to be exposed. So we bow at the altar of Control in order to navigate life in the way we want. The damaging lie takes root: If we remain in control of our circumstances, life will go well for us. 

Here are some diagnostic questions to gauge your level of struggle with this idol: 

Diagnostic Question: Do I hate being told what to do? Do I hate being told who I am (even from my friends, family, or God)? Do I resent people who try to put me into a box? Do I need to control how other people perceive me? Am I anxious about the unknown? Do I play through every possible scenario in my head before facing a new situation? 

-OR- 

I get really angry, annoyed, and frustrated when other people interrupt my plans. I need to know exactly what God is up to (in the details) in order to trust and obey Him. I will only be faithful to God as long as He doesn’t put me in situations that are outside my control. I feel important, accomplished, successful, and needed when I’m in control. 

The idol of Control whispers lies in our ears: 

THE LIE: Control is freedom. I get to decide who I am. No one can tell me what to do. If there is an authority telling me what to do, then I’m not free. My personal experience and viewpoint decide what is true. I need to be in control of a situation in order to be safe, secure, and at peace. I can only trust myself when it comes to my own well-being. 

In the life of Joseph (Gen. 37-50), we see the lies of Control exposed and we see the goodness of God shine through. Joseph had every ounce of control stripped away from him when he was betrayed by his own brothers and sold into slavery. Landing in the unfamiliar land of Egypt, he is forced to navigate his new life in a new culture with a new language in a new household. Everything that was familiar for Joseph was gone. He went from being the favorite son to a foreign slave. But, we learn that God was still with him. 

 ² “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. ³ His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. ⁴ So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. ⁵ From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.” Gen. 39:2-5

Joseph was not in control, but God was. And God is faithful. God’s blessing was able to follow Joseph through tragedy and all the way to Egypt. Unfortunately though, circumstances got even worse for Joseph. After becoming the favorite slave, he is then falsley accused of rape and thrown into prison. Alone. Abandoned. Forgotten. But then the Bible says this: 

 ²¹ “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ²² And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. ²³ The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.” Gen. 39:21-23 

God was still able to show Joseph steadfast love and faithfulness in this dire and tragic situation. The Lord is not caught off guard by our circumstances. He knows them all and He remains with us through them all. Which leads us to the good news. 

 THE GOSPEL: Surrender is freedom. God is in control. He is in control of my situation. He is in control of my identity. He is good, kind, loving, and worth trusting. He works all things together for His glory and my good. 

Joseph learns that God is in control and He can use anything and everything for His good plan. Listen to what he says to his brothers who had hated and mistreated him: 

 ¹⁹ “But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. ²¹ So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Gen. 50:19-21

Joseph knew there was a God in control; orchestrating all the events of his life to bring about good for others. Joseph learned it is a fool’s errand to strive after control. And it is the blessing of the wise to put their trust in God. 

Bono had to learn a similar lesson. Young Bono (in 1981): “I can’t change the world, but I can change the world in me.” After singing this catchy and quippy line, he went on to support the global poor and raise money to provide for them. He started multiple non-profits and put on charity shows. He met with politicians and presidents. He made a massive impact on planet earth to relieve poverty and hunger. But throughout this journey, he started to discover an unsettling truth. Even though he was able to have global impact, he was finding it impossible to control something much closer to home: his own self. 

 Old Bono (in 2022): “I can change the world, but I can’t change the world inside of me.” 

The scariest thing we can’t control is our own sin. Our own broken soul. Our own sick heart. We have to surrender to King Jesus - He is the only One who can give us a new heart. Who can forgive our sin. Who can heal our soul. Who can make us righteous. And He’s happy to do it! Slay the idol of control. Wave the white flag. And let Him in. 

“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” - Blaise Pascal 

Set a timer for 2 minutes and sit alone in silence. Did you try it? Of course you didn’t. Who has time for that? Plus, what would you even think about for 2 minutes? What if pain rushes to the surface? What if all your regrets come to mind? What if you’re forced to face your own emptiness? 

Being thoroughly undistracted is a daunting - even paralyzing - idea. But as Pascal’s quote alludes to, maybe our constant running away is what leads to so many problems. Maybe our persistent need to be entertained causes us to make poor decisions. What causes the void we are longing to fill? What are we running from? 

Romans 1 gives us an idea:
18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (emphasis added)

Humans, in our sin-filled and unredeemed state, love to replace weighty truths about God with useless distractions about anything else. We don’t want to face God. We don’t want to face our conscience. We don’t want to face our problems. We don’t want to face our pain. We don’t want to face truth. Instead, we prefer “futile” thoughts - worthless, empty, foolish. Distracting ourselves with these things is the most common way we suppress the truth today. 

Here are examples of futile distractions in 2025:
YouTube
Being too busy
TV shows
Social media
Fashion trends 

Now to be clear, there is nothing inherently wrong with anything listed above. But we can easily turn to these things to stoke our idol of distraction. So how can you tell if you are innocently enjoying a Netflix show versus committing idolatry? 

Diagnostic Question: Do I run to these things in order to avoid God, my problems, and my conscience (“suppress the truth”)? 
-OR-
Do I enjoy them as gifts from the Lord that I can use to honor Him (“honor him as God and give thanks to him”)? 

THE LIE: If I am entertained, then I will be happy. When I am distracted, my problems go away. I need the “next thing” to look forward to in order to be motivated. ____________ is more entertaining/fun/fulfilling/important than my relationship with Jesus.

During my junior year of high school, my best friend missed a very long stretch of school. He was really sick with stomach and digestive issues. Nothing seemed to be helping. His mom would give him oatmeal every single day in hopes that it would soothe his stomach. The fact that he loved oatmeal was an added bonus. After many doctor visits and tests, it turned out that my friend was allergic to oats! That was the problem all along. 

Are you daily turning to things for peace and relief that are actually making the problem worse? We think we need our brain to be occupied with levity and distractions in order to be at peace. But all we’re doing is kicking the can down the road - and all the while the can is getting bigger. Even after we’ve been redeemed and made new - set free by the truth - we can fall into old patterns of suppressing the very truth that saved us.
It is far better to fill our mind with what will actually help us: God, His Word, and His presence. It is far better to rehearse the gospel that changes us. It is far better to give our attention to God than to outlets of futility. 

I’ve heard it suggested that “attention is worship.” This is one of the most basic ways we can evaluate what is sitting on the throne of our heart: What are we always giving our attention to? 

THE GOSPEL: The truth is far scarier than we could have thought, yet more hopeful than we could have imagined! God is worth our attention! 

This is the uncomfortable truth we find when we are undistracted and let God’s Word speak: God is Holy. God is Just. We don’t measure up. We have sinned. We need help. We can’t fix all our problems on our own. We can’t fix other people’s problems on our own. 

But the uncomfortable truth is never alone. It is always joined with Good News: God is Good. God is love. Jesus came to save us! Jesus is the hero. We can hand our worries over to Him because He cares about us. He gives the free gift of grace. He lived for us. He died for us. He rose again for us. We are accepted. We are redeemed. We are forgiven. We are free! God will never leave us or forsake us. God will keep all His promises. 

God is worth our attention! And as we give Him our attention, we honor Him as God and give thanks to Him in our hearts. The idol of distraction is slain. 

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” - 2 Corinthians 3:18

Part 2 - Approval

THE IDOL: Approval. 

Scenario #1: You and your friends have planned to meet at the park so all your kids can play together. But all morning your child has been having behavioral issues. You text to cancel last-minute. Your friends’ kids are always so well-behaved and you don’t want to be viewed as a bad parent if the behavior problems continue at the park. 

Scenario #2: Your buddies at work make yet another degrading and inappropriate joke. It’s how they pass the time. You chuckle along because you don’t want to come across as a holier-than-thou fun-killer. Then they start complaining again about your overbearing boss and the unrealistic standards they’re expected to meet. Some really accurate points are made, so you start chiming in in agreement. To point out the positive aspects of work and the things you’re grateful for would just make your friends annoyed with you. Which in turn would give them more fuel for their jokes and complaints - all about you. 

Scenario #3: For the past month you’ve been fighting spiritual fatigue and discouragement. You’re wrestling with doubts and questions about your faith. Nothing seems to bring joy to you. You’re irritable and impatient. But more than anything you’re scared. You can’t find out why you’ve been feeling this way and what the source could be. At Community Group, the leader asks how the group can be praying for each other. You really want to share about your struggle, but can’t bring yourself to do it. Everyone else in the group always seems to have it all together, so you don’t want to be seen as the needy or immature one. 

Anyone relate? We will do a lot of things to avoid the judgement and potential rejection of other humans. (For an example in the Bible, check out Exodus 32.) It often feels so much easier to avoid situations and conversations that would even make disapproval a possibility. But I think it goes deeper than that too. It’s not just a matter of what’s easier. Human beings have a deep craving for acceptance. Our hearts ache for approval. We have an innate need to be loved. 

This longing becomes a problem when we go to the wrong source to have it fulfilled. Approval becomes an idol in our hearts when we are willing to ignore God and His Word in the name of fitting in, being respected, or appearing impressive. This idol whispers lies in our ears and gives false promises:

THE LIE: If other people are happy with me, then I will be happy. If other people are impressed with me, then I will have value. If I keep up the right image and reputation, then I will have a good life. 

We may never say those lies out loud, but how often do we live as if they are true? Living lies can be more dangerous than telling lies. Following falsehood will always lead to pain and destruction. 

We can be especially vulnerable to the lies of idols for two reasons: 1) They are so close to the truth. And 2) they play on our deepest needs and desires. A friend once told me, “Satan serves lies on a platter of truth.” It is true that humans need approval. That is a built-in feature. But it is a lie that we need approval from other people. We need approval from one Person - not a merely human person. We need approval from God Himself. 

The beautiful truth is that God doesn’t ask us to get rid of our need for approval. He asks us to run to Him alone to have that need met. So here is what the gospel says about the idol of approval:

THE GOSPEL: You don’t need to search for people’s approval, because you already have approval from GOD!! Jesus meets that need better than anything else could. He earns God’s approval on our behalf. 

This truth is the only way to combat the lie. The more we cherish the good news; the more we soak it into our bones; the more we remind ourselves of gospel reality; the more we will overcome and destroy the idol of approval. 

We don’t have to wade through this life in a puddle of insecurity. We can stand confident before the very throne of God because we are righteous. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21. Now we can face human interactions with faithfulness to God above all else. We can risk being judged and rejected by people, because we know we will never be judged and rejected by God. 

“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” - Proverbs 29:25

– Matt Karr

For Christians living in the U.S. in 2025, this temptation has most likely never crossed our minds. Yet the Scriptures are full of warnings and commands regarding the worship of idols. Here is what Yahweh tells the Israelites before they enter into the promised land:

“But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire.” - Deut. 7:5

The surrounding nations will be full of idolatry. The Lord is instructing His people to immediately get rid of such practices. Be ruthless: crush them, smash them, burn them. Leave no room for these things to continue. God is very clear and very serious when it comes to idol worship. 

So how can we faithfully apply this to our lives today when there is little to no worship of carved images to be found? The key is to correctly understand what an idol is, and how they can show up in our modern context. 

In the New Testament, Jesus calls His disciples to wholehearted devotion to God and His kingdom (see His Sermon on the Mount). Idols are things that we let get in the way of us doing just that. They keep us from enjoying the good life that God offers. And they are offensive to God. Idols do not have to be literal statues with altars and pillars. An idol is anything we put in the place of God. To put it another way: all of us have a throne in our heart. Who or what is sitting on that throne? 

Here are some helpful diagnostic questions to find any idols hiding in our hearts: 

• What am I placing my daily, functional trust in?
• Where is my attention most often focused? 
• What makes me angry?
• What do I try to avoid at all costs?
• What do I run to for peace and security? 
• What do I worry about the most? 
• What defines who I am? 

So we want to go on an idol-smashing spree to eliminate roadblocks in our life of following Jesus. Exodus 20:1-6 gives us all the reason and motivation we need to destroy idols in our hearts.

Reason #1: God is Savior. 

“And God spoke all these words, saying, ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.’” - Exodus 20:1-2

Before giving commands to the Israelites, God had already delivered them out of slavery in Egypt. Likewise, He saves us today before we do anything to earn it. Now, in response to His salvation, we live in obedience and faithfulness to Him. 

Idols promise things; but they never fully deliver. In fact, they tend to deliver less and less as time goes on. Only God can save us from the endless loop of idols and sin and disappointment! He makes promises, and He always delivers. 

Reason #2: God is King.

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” - Exodus 20:3-4

He commands it! That’s plenty of reason to destroy idols right there. Let’s make the throne in our heart match the throne of the universe. God is King whether we like it or not. So let’s start honoring Him as such! 

Reason #3: God is Jealous.

“You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God . . .” - Exodus 20:5a

God alone is worth serving, worshiping, relying on, and finding our identity in. God Himself knows that this is true. So when He sees humans putting other things before Him, He is jealous for His own glory. It is the right kind of jealousy because it aligns with reality. God can be jealous without sinning.

If someone kidnapped my son and tried to raise him, I would be rightfully jealous for his time, attention, and friendship. I would be jealous for him. In the same way, God is jealous for us. God created us to be in right relationship with Him - which means having Him on the throne of our heart. He is not jealous for what does not belong to Him. God is jealous for what is rightfully His! 

Reason #4: God is Just.

“ . . . visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me . . .” - Exodus 20:5b

Here is the harsh reality: Idolatry is an expression of hatred toward God. It is robbing God of His rightful place and giving credit, honor, and glory to something else. It is rejecting His love and relationship. It is disobeying His commands and design for life.  It is destroying His creation. Because when we follow idols, it will lead to the harm of others. 

God is going to make things right again. He cannot let evil go unpunished! It is robbing Him of glory and it is harmful to His creation. So let’s start smashing idols in our heart in order to faithfully honor the Judge. 

Reason #5: God is Good. 

“ . . . but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” - Exodus 20:6

There is steadfast love available! God’s justice is measured. God’s love is overflowing! We should crush our idols because God is the only One who is Good! He is the only One worthy of that seat on the throne. 

Idols disappoint us and lead to death. God loves us and leads us to life. Why would we idolize things that can’t love us back? God is the only One who can love us perfectly. He will never let us down. The more we eliminate idols and worship God alone, the more we will experience His goodness. 

In this blog series, we will cover five core idols that Christians tend to face in 2025 - approval, distraction, control, comfort, and self. For each one, we will ask diagnostic questions to help us discern if we struggle with that specific idol. Then we will outline the lies and false promises offered by the idol. Finally, we will explore how the gospel addresses and overcomes each one. 

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” - 1 John 5:21

– Matt Karr

But she was going to defy the odds, fight the sickness, and beat the cancer. She posted her journey and amassed millions of followers—many of them cancer patients who were inspired by her story and encouraged to follow her example in pursuing alternative medicine. 

Gibson eventually released an app of her recipes called Whole Pantry and authored a companion cookbook. The following year she worked with Apple on the development of an Apple Watch-specific platform. In 2014 she was awarded the ‘Fun, Fearless, Female’ award by Cosmopolitan. She rose to prominence fast.  

But her world began to crumble when her story came under the scrutiny of close friends, journalists, and medical professionals. A popular Melbourne newspaper launched a investigation into Gibson’s claims of donating to numerous charities. That investigation uncovered a world of deception. It turns out, Gibson was a complete fraud. She did not contribute proceeds to charity. She was not beating cancer with healthy living. In fact, she did not even have cancer. But she was sick. Very sick. She was a chronic liar. 

The backlash came. Outrage from her followers, deeper investigations on her history, and even legal proceedings for reparations. At one point, Gibson was fined $410,000 by a Federal Court for her false claims of charitable donations. The judge described her as having “a relentless obsession with herself and what serves her best interests.” 

In 2015, Gibson gave a famous TV interview with 60 Minutes Journalist Tara Brown in which she claimed “I’m not trying to get away with anything.” During that interview, Brown gave Gibson repeated opportunities to come clean, get honest, tell the truth, and confess her wrongdoing. At one point, Brown looked directly at Gibson, obviously frustrated at her unwillingness to tell the truth. She asked a simple question: “How old are you?” Gibson lied again, saying she was twenty six. Brown presented her birth records, stating she was clearly twenty three. You could see in Brown’s demeanor the astonishment as she realized the girl in front of her was not simply unwilling to be honest, but unable. 

Gibson continued in her life of deception, self-centeredness, narcissism, and denial. She has a history of fractured relationships, bold lies, and hurt followers. She never faced her true self. But that’s the only self God is interested in helping. 

When God finds Jacob alone and afraid, He pounces on him, wears him down, and dislocates his hip. Jacob was trapped. He couldn’t escape. But then something amazing happens. Jacob realizes Who he is up against and makes a daring request:

Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” —Genesis 32:26–28

Jacob wants to be blessed. Don’t we all? That’s what he’s been chasing his entire life. But he’s gone about it the wrong way. Lying. Cheating. Stealing. Charming. He came up short. He feels guilty and empty. But God is about to give him the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s the same opportunity God gives us all. He invites us to face ourselves in His presence. He invites us to get honest about who we really are, so He can change us. 

That’s the point that is often missed in God’s strange demand that Jacob give his name. Obviously God wasn’t looking for information. He was inviting a confession. Do you remember what the name Jacob means? Cheat, swindler, schemer, con man. Fraud. Fake. Your name was your character. Gloriously cornered, Jacob complies and owns his identity. And then things get interesting. God changes Jacob forever. 

All of the sudden his eyes were opened and he finally realized that his real problem was not Esau or his dad. It wasn’t Laban or his coddling mother. No. Jacob’s real problem was Jacob. Until this point, Jacob had played the victim.

We do it, too. Think about the conflict in your life. Don’t we often play it up to the issues of others? It’s a hard life. A hard marriage. A hard teacher. A hard boss. Maybe even hard friendships. But maybe the issue is actually our hard heart.

If pressed by God, maybe we’d see our real struggle, and make a confession:  I am LUST. I am GREED. I am PRIDE. I am ANGER. I am ENVY. I am CONTROL. I am LAZY. We have to face ourselves. The real us.  

 That’s the most terrifying experience. Facing ourself. Who we really are. Deep down inside. We run from that. We don’t want to think about it or talk about it. We don’t even want to know what’s down there. But God refuses to give us a surface experience.

In her song, Water/Wind/Fire, Jess Ray sings about God: “You are the ocean, wildly rushing in. Busting every barricade, flooding every secret place. We say we wanna feel you, we say we wanna dive in. I'm the fool for thinking I can just put my feet in…”

Jacob couldn’t just put his feet in anymore. He plunged deep underneath and found a loving God who had been in his corner all along. God was ready to change Jacob the second he got honest and confessed his sin. Jacob realized in the struggle that God was not after his life. He was after his heart. 

It’s interesting to consider Jacob’s past pursuits of “getting a blessing.” Do you recall? Before, Jacob lied to his father, Isaac in order to obtain God’s blessing. Isaac asked him point blank, “Who are you?” He answered “I am Esau, your firstborn” *Gen 27:19. But he can’t lie to God. It’s game up. Time to get honest. Time to tell the truth. Time to face yourself.

God gives Jacob a new name, Israel, which means God fights. It’s a promise. God fights for us. The blessing you are searching for is not going to come from more striving or deceiving. It comes by submitting. God doesn’t help those who help themselves. 

Jordan Peterson, a world-renowned psychologist and cultural critic opened his “We who wrestle with God” tour with these words: “Why do we wrestle with God?”

The answer is clear if we’re honest: we want to be blessed. But we want to be blessed our way. Which means we feel the need to prove ourselves. That we’re worthy. We’re able. We’re capable. We’re competent. Beautiful. Intelligent. Accomplished.

People spend their entire lives “running up that hill” only to find the top is a mirage. We’re profoundly flawed and incapable. And we know it when we face the truth. When we slow down, get alone, face our weakness, and get honest.

Jacob suddenly realized what you and I need to realize: the fulfillment we’ve been looking for in work, friendships, a spouse, kids, an American dream, making money, the blessing we’ve been looking for is actually in the face of God. The text is moving. It says, “God blessed him there." 

 What was Jacob’s blessing? He got a new identity. Conferring a new name on someone is often a kingly prerogative in Scripture. From now on, Jacob shall be called Israel. The victim is now the victor! 

God got big that day. Jacob put a hashtag on that location. "I have seen the face of God and YET my life is spared.” Jacob not only saw God's face. He touched God—and lived. Both should have been fatal encounters. So how did he survive? For one reason: 

Someone else stood in God’s presence and was destroyed on Jacob’s behalf. Jesus, who was not a cheat. He was not manipulative. He was not a fraud. He was an Israelite in whom there was no 'guile.' He was the spotless lamb, whose body was not just put out of joint, but torn and shredded for us. 

Jacob’s encounter with God ended with a blessing. He got grace. Jesus’ encounter with God ended with a curse. He got wrath. Jacob was wounded by God. Jesus was slain. 

Have you been changed by God? Stop fighting and start confessing. Watch what happens. Remember, we were so sinful, Jesus had to die. But God loves us so much, he was glad to.

God blessed Jacob greatly. But Tozer was right, God first hurt him deeply. We find that story in Genesis 32. Jacob has received word that his brother is on his way with a small army to meet him after 20 years. The last he heard, Esau wanted to kill him. 

As was his custom, Jacob asked for God’s “help” but then began to scheme. He gave detailed instructions to his traveling party in hopes of slipping out of the jam. Jacob knows he is vulnerable. He’s in the middle of the desert with 11 young children, 2 wives, a handful of servants, and a lot of livestock. He’s helpless against Esau, who is a wild man of the field, trained in hunting, and probably still angry. So Jacob takes action.  

He “took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone” (Genesis 32:23–24).

Jacob is alone, afraid, and in the dark. He's a burdened man. But he’s not yet broken. But suddenly, out of the pitch black night, “a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.” 

You gotta love Scripture’s subtleties! No foreshadowing. No lead-in. No heads up in the narrative. Just a stranger, coming out of nowhere, pouncing on you in your most apprehensive moment. That’s how life often works, isn't it? 

Jacob was a cheat. And he was the worst kind of cheat because he possessed mental acuity, physical strength, and relational charm. Smooth skinned Jacob had the charisma to get out of anything. He was STRONG. What he doesn’t know is that his strength is a liability that has held back God’s blessing. Jacob must be broken.  

Sometimes we’re too strong for God to use. Uzziah was an Old Testament king who reminds me of Jacob. He was clever, intelligent, and industrious. He conquered nations. He built cities. He farmed. He engineered new weapons. He was a second Solomon if ever there was one. Like Jacob, he was strong. But his reign ended in disgrace. 

Here’s how the Chronicler tells the story: “His fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction.” —2 Chronicles 26:15–16

Have you ever been hurt deeply—by God? A close friend of mine in high school was one of the most promising athletes in the history of our school. Even in Junior High, everyone knew he was destined for athletic greatness—and so did he. I can still hear his agonizing cry the night he broke his leg. Not all of his tears were from physical pain. His athletic dreams, along with his femur, were shattered. Years later, he conveyed to one of our mutual friends: “You can think about a lot in the hospital bed with a broken leg.” God broke my friend, but it was the beginning of a more powerful story of his redemption. God hurt him deeply and then blessed him greatly.   

Our self-reliance must be broken. It’s devastating when it happens. We’re hardly ever prepared. God does not come to Jacob as a gentle ally but as an adversary. He breaks the remaining vestiges of Jacob’s faith in himself. Jacob actually believes that he is prevailing, that is until the mysterious “man of God” reached out and touches Jacob’s hip to dislocate it.

“When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him” —Genesis 32:25.

No serious scholar has ever questioned the identity of the strange assailant. God was the one who jumped Jacob in the dark and wrestled him to the ground. In verse 28, the “man” said, “You have striven with God,” and in Hosea 12 we read: “In the womb Jacob took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor.”

Jacob is going toe-to-toe with his Maker. The fact that He “wrestles” Jacob instead of simply punching or clubbing him tells us something: Jacob isn’t getting away this time. God has him exactly where he wants him. Wrestling is exhausting. Even five uninterrupted minutes of floor wrestling is enough to make you lose your breath. Can you imagine wrestling until the break of day—with a stranger!  

This is the most important night of Jacob’s life. Esau is coming to meet him in the morning. He needs to be at his best. Rested. Calm. Relaxed. Mentally, physically, emotionally on his A-game. Have you ever been sleep-deprived? Really exhausted? No matter what you do, you cannot close your eyes and hit the REM sweet spot? Maybe it's your body being wracked with pain. Maybe it's an over-active mind. A screaming, hungry baby. A problem you can't solve. A burden you can’t forget. It’s agonizing. 

Jacob had prayed for God to come and deliver him. But God shows up and takes him to the ground. This strange adversary is not after money, or revenge. He is after something else. He has come to take away Jacob’s strength. 

Jacob has been strong from his youth. His little baby hand latched on to his brother’s heel at birth. He rolled away the stone to water Rachel’s flock and impress her. He labored in the Middle Eastern sun for 20 years for His Uncle. Sure, he’s a quiet tent-dweller. But he’s no pansy. He had a quick, clever mind along with an able body.    

Does this sound like how God is supposed to work? We want God to come and strengthen us. To give us energy. A full, replenishing, deep, REM night of sleep. Help us to be at our best. Mental clarity. Presence of mind. Wake up ready to face the challenge. Instead, God takes all that away. He doesn’t strengthen Jacob at all. He weakens him. He maims him. Instead of fixing Jacob, God breaks him.  

Were Jacob in your counseling office the night this happened, you’d recognize him as anxious and probably want to hold his hand, pray with him, strengthen and encourage him. I guarantee you wouldn’t do what God did to him.

I wonder: are we too strong, too clever, too _______ for God to use? Like Gideon’s army, God has to strip us down of our self sufficiency. 

Do you ever feel like God is crushing you? Taking away everything important to you? Take heart! You may be on the verge of a life-changing breakthrough. 

He has to take away the things we trust in. Just a surface encounter with God won’t do. We don’t meet with God on His terms. He will not be held at arms length or manipulated. Jacob had met with God before. He saw heaven opened up. He saw a ladder spanning from heaven to earth and watched angelic creatures going up and down the ladder. It was an amazing experience. *ch. 28. He named it Bethel. House of God. But here he is, 20 years later. Same old Jacob. Unchanged. What was different this time? Jacob was alone. And Jacob had his strength taken away. He was desperate. 

What goes around comes around. Jacob grabbed his brother’s heel. God grabbed Jacob’s hip. He couldn't escape. He couldn't depend on himself anymore. He couldn't run away. He was worn down. Tired. Afraid. Desperate. God didn’t touch Jacob where he was weak. He touched him where he was strong. Take out a wrestler’s legs and he’s done. Jacob is now finally at the mercy of almighty God. He can’t call for help. He can’t run away. He’s exhausted. He’s crippled. What does God want with him? 

God wants one thing. He wants Jacob to get honest about who he really is—at his core. It is then, and only then that God will change his identity forever. That’s the most powerful point in this story. We’ll look at that next time…