Would you think it's nice to have your own genie in a bottle?
In the second "respect me" instruction, God says, "don't ever treat me like genie in bottle." God frees us from the need to sucker a god to be on our side.
To understand this instruction about carved images, we have to know something about how other peoples worship other gods in Moses' time.
The "reputation" of a people is often associated with the might of their god. So a people would make a carving of some sort - perhaps of a bird out of wood or stone - the more fierce looking the better. Than they would put this "vessel" on a stick and whoop and dance around it until they "catch" a spirit. This spirit would become their genie in a bottle. It will perch on a pole in the middle of their city, go in front in a war, or receive offerings in ceremonies.
God is saying "I am not a spirit nor a good luck charm. Don't treat me like a genie or a pet. I am a person, not something you manipulate. You don't need to do that because I will bless you freely."
And this is where worship gets trick: the things we do for God and give God can be a genuine expression of gratitude and devotion, but it can just as easily be a bribe - designed to manipuate God to favour us by doing what we what him to.
And pretty soon, our children watch us and imitate us in the way we treat God like a genie in a bottle, rather than a God to honour - especially when he doesn't do what we ask.
So there is a dire warning about enslaving our children to a disrespectful treatment of God, as well as a blessing to those who are able to pass forward a faith that treats God with respectful and allegiance.
Write
Think about your faith story: how have you sometimes treated God as a genie in a bottle? What do you do what God doesn't do what you want?
in your life presently, how is your worship with God linked to how he gives you what you ask? In what ways do you try to manipulate God?
Who do you know is disappointed that God is not a genie in a bottle?
Pray
What
is God saying to you today? What's Good News to you?
Talk to God about your experience of manipulating God for blessing. Thank God that he frees you from that kind of religion, that he blesses your freely.
Pray about your present struggle in a non-manipulative way. Ask God for the help you need, the reassureance of his presence, and the courage to let him bless you in the way he sees fit.
Pray for your friend who is discovering that God defies manipulation. Ask God to give you the wisdom and opportunity to come along side your friend and walk with them to freedom in their worship.
Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy in the way he blesses and loves you freely, and the way he meets you as a person who knows better and not a genie who simply does what you wish.