ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tu’apulelulu Fepueli 16, 2023 

The Ineptitude of Idols תרפים

KO E NGAAHI ‘AITOLI TA‘E‘AONGA MO VAIVAI

GENESIS 31:34-35

NOW RACHEL HAD TAKEN THE HOUSEHOLD GODS AND PUT THEM IN THE CAMEL'S SADDLE AND SAT ON THEM. LABAN FELT ALL ABOUT THE TENT, BUT DID NOT FIND THEM. AND SHE SAID TO HER FATHER, "LET NOT MY LORD BE ANGRY THAT I CANNOT RISE BEFORE YOU, FOR THE WAY OF WOMEN IS UPON ME."

SENESI 31:34-35

Ka kuo hanga ‘e Lesieli ‘o ‘ai ‘a e ngaahi telāfimi ‘i he nofo‘a fale ‘o e kāmeli, ‘o ne hekeheka ai. Pea fotofota holo ‘e Lēpani ‘a e ngaahi me‘a ‘i he tēniti, ka ka ‘ikai ‘ilo. 35 Pea lea ange ‘a e fefine ki he‘ene tamai, Ke ‘oua na‘a tuputāmaki ‘a hoku ‘eiki ‘i he ‘ikai te u lava ke tu‘u ki ‘olunga ‘i ho‘o me‘a mai; he ‘oku ‘iate au ‘a e anga fakafefine. Pea ne hakule, kae ‘ikai te ne ‘ilo ‘a e ngaahi telāfimi.

The Bible does not wink at pseudogods or their images. They are mercilessly mocked and condemned. Genesis 31 is a vivid (and darkly humorous) example. This variety, called f'rafim ("household gods"), are probably small humanoid figurines. The comedy of the situation is evident: not only are Rachel's glutes on these gods, but she is menstruating, which made her ritually unclean. These t'rafim are such failures at godhood that they (1) can't keep themselves from being stolen, (2) can't do anything about being sat on, and (3) are themselves made unclean. Three strikes, t'rafim; you're out of the god game.

The Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT) unmask faux deities as the disguises of demons. In Israel's idolatry, "they sacrificed to demons that were no gods" (Deut. 32:17). Paul says, "What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons" (1 Cor. 10:20). Christ has triumphed over all these in his resurrection, stomping the powers of hell. In the Messiah we are liberated to worship him and the Father in the Spirit of truth.

Gracious Father, destroy in us all attachments to false gods and give us hearts devoted exclusively to you.