You have seen pictures of the queer looking shapes made of wood or stone, or some of gold, silver, or brass which people. in many places kneel and pray to. Some are made like people, often with very ugly faces, some like animals. There are large ones in their temples and small ones for the homes. Some are made tiny to wear on a chain about the neck.
The people think these idols can help them in sickness and trouble, and pray for this. They also think these images become angry and send them had storms, fever, and such. They bring them the best things they can of fruit, flowers, and other presents to try to win their favor. Oil and spices are burned before them, also animals. We could not count the cruel things that have been done to try to please the idols. How sad and foolish to pray to what cannot see or hear!
The Bible tells us the reason they do this is that once they knew of the God of heaven, Who, with His Son, made all things and sees and knows all. But they did not want to praise Him, and began to have such sinful, foolish ways.
Some of these poor people are now glad to hear of the Saviour, and they destroy the images and also their ornaments of charm, and are so much happier. The Lord said:
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven 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. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.” Exodus 20:4, 54Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (Exodus 20:4‑5).
“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
They have mouths but they speak not;
Eyes have they, but they see not;
The have ears, but they hear not;
Noses have they, but they smell not;
They have hands, but they handle not;
Feet have they, but they walk not;
ML 12/13/1936