Time to part with your household gods

An interesting incident in the story of Jacob caught my attention recently.

Just as Jacob and his family are preparing to leave Laban and return to the promised land, Rachel pauses for a moment and decides to take with her the household gods with which she had grown up (Genesis 31:19). We wonder why she did this. To prevent her father continuing in his pagan ways? Possibly; but most likely because she still was not fully convinced if Jacob’s God could be trusted.

When Laban discovers what has happened he pursues Jacob’s entourage, catching up with them in Gilead. There is a confrontation, and the issue of the household gods is raised. Jacob knows nothing, and Rachel cunningly hides them under her skirts, excusing herself from the search by saying she is ritually unclean (Genesis 31:34-35). Laban eventually departs and the convoy follows on, the household gods now integrated into Jacob’s family setting.

It seems to me that Rachel had a need for these pagan deities. She had grown up with them and was familiar with them. Most cultures have their equivalent – minor deities that protect the house and family members, promise success and ensure well-being. They provide a way of keeping control of the world, and we are all drawn towards anything that will make life as safe and happy as we feel it should be. Household gods don’t demand much, can be easily manipulated, and offer significant rewards. A nod of the head, a curtsey of respect, a mumbled mantra or a whiff of incense and they are onside. One or two may be vindictive little devils, but most are potentially dispensers of goodies. Why leave them behind in the journey to a new country? Surely it makes sense to bring them along as an insurance policy?

I think many of us unconsciously bring our ‘household gods’ with us when we become believers. We carry over into our new life attitudes and ways of thinking that reflect our old way of life. In particular our ideas about God are often shaped by our pre-Christian past.

For some – familiar with benevolent deities - this means a benevolent Santa Claus figure. As long as we do the right things he will deliver on the blessings. We expect God to bless us, and as long as things go well, we are happy in our faith. Trouble starts when things do not work out as we anticipated. Then it seems that God has failed us, and we are disappointed in him. We may throw a spiritual tantrum, stop going to church, withdraw our tithe, threaten to give up on our faith, slander the Almighty. There is no room in our lives for God to be God, or the idea that suffering might be part of his will for our lives, or the notion that we grow and develop most when our faith is challenged.

Others – remembering only vindictive deities - can only conceive of a God who wants to berate and punish them, who is never satisfied with their offerings, and who continually demands more of them. They are scared to put a foot wrong in case the sky falls in on them, constantly berate themselves for their shortcomings and imperfections, and never imagine receiving anything good unless they have first earned it. For them faith is a joyless burden, a heavy load of guilt and shame with no relief. Only fear keeps them believing in a God they are not sure they like anyway.

Peter says that we have been redeemed from the futile ways handed down to us from our forefathers (1Peter 1:18). We need to realise that this may mean revisiting how we think about God, and identifying any false notions that may have crept into our thinking, and which may distort how we relate to him. A.W Tozer wrote that, ‘Whatever comes into your heart and mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you.’ If those thoughts are unconsciously based upon ‘household gods’ (whether benevolent of vindictive) it will inevitably mean our relationship with God is warped. It is worth asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any distortions in your own thinking about God.

The day came when Jacob had the confidence to challenge his family about their idolatry, and they responded by bringing out their idols (the household gods plus others) and getting rid of them by burying them under the oak at Shechem (Genesis 35:2-5). It was a powerful moment in the formation of the life of God’s people, resulting in a surge of supernatural power amongst them (v5). Death to all false notions of God!

Whenever we cast aside false ideas of God and embrace the God revealed to us in Scripture we move forward spiritually. We may no longer be in control, and God may no longer be ‘safe’, but he will be free to be the awesome God of Jacob in our own lives. You don’t need those household gods. Get rid of them.