“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.” (Deuteronomy 32:39)
Jesus tells us that He is the only way to heaven, a concept which most of the people in our world reject. Instead an increasing number of people including Christians subscribe to the concept of pluralism. This concept maintains that the many religions that exist are all equally valid. They are just different roads that all lead to heaven whatever form that may take. This is not a biblical concept. As Moses maintains here, there is only one God, not many, and He alone is responsible for all that exists. Consequently, He alone can help and save us. Yahweh is a rock: sure, steadfast, unmovable, and unchangeable, one who can always be trusted to keep His word.
We humans often worship other things or even people as gods. We give them loyalty, time, energy and adoration but, in effect they possess no love or real power. I guess that is why God is so offended by them. He is a loving person. He is all powerful. What do we frail humans choose in His place? We choose things that cannot deliver us, cannot forgive us our sins, cannot love, cannot give us the real comfort we need in times of adversity and sorrow. He alone has forgiven our sins through the death of Jesus on the cross.
When humans reject God’s gift of salvation, He does not feel angry as much as hurt but He does not cast us off. Instead He disciplines us to bring us to Him. Such discipline, though painful, is a necessary blessing. Often we think that blessings come when we are on the mountaintop of victory and joy when we feel God’s presence. Yet the real blessing comes when we are in the valley of darkness and despair. It is there that we reach out for God’s presence because we do not feel Him. That is where faith thrives and flourishes for the absence of feeling His presence does not mean He has left us. Faith tells us that He is there even though our feelings say otherwise.