Designer Idols – Day 5
Amon
“The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will punish Amon, the god of Thebes, and all the other gods of Egypt. I will punish its rulers and Pharaoh, too, and all who trust in him.” Jeremiah 46:25 (NLT)
One of eight primordial Egyptian deities, Amon’s role evolved over the centuries from the god of air to the king of all deities in the new kingdom of Egypt. With the merge of the northern and southern Egyptian kingdoms, Amon merges with Ra and was known as the nationally worshipped god: Amun-Ra. His followers believed he created himself and then everything else in the universe but distanced himself from it as “the original inscrutable and indivisible creator”. Oracles controlled by priests revealed his wishes. Sacrifices the deity demanded were fabricated from their evil hearts – manipulating Pharaohs to do their bidding.
Pharaohs believed themselves gods among men appointed by the king of gods – causing them to become entitled, believing they were more worthy than any other person. They worshipped him as their father and protector who will grant them godship when they enter the afterlife.
Entitlement: the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges and has a dispensation. The danger is; entitlement is a form of pride. Whenever we feel we are more deserving of a blessing than the person who received it – it is entitlement. Or, whenever we expect God to do something for us or on our behalf – it is entitlement. Our sense of pride creates an idol of entitlement within our hearts.
“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 NLT.
Humble pie is not the easiest slice to have on your plate at times. Our humility towards God circumcises our hearts from pride (and entitlement), always allowing us to put God first.
Prayer: Father, thank You for teaching us about entitlement. Please show me the areas in my life where entitlement reigns like Amon and help me to break down this idol in my life. I humble myself before You, my Father to praise and worship You as the priority in my life. Amen.
