The Importance of the First Commandment
The first commandment is very short — but it's the foundation everything else rests on. Here's why putting God first isn't just a rule, but a protection against consequences that ripple through generations.
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” –- Exodus 20:3
This is a short commandment that God created. It is first out of ten, but it is the most important one. Not everyone can obey it because of sin. People do make objects, people, and sports an idol. Throughout the Scriptures, people made gods and worshipped them instead of God. Ancient people often carved idols out of wood and stone. This was done among the surrounding pagan nations of the ancient Near East. Some groups of people that did it were the Canaanites, Egyptians, and Babylonians.
It is dangerous for anyone to make idols or put them before God in their life. The man-made idols are completely lifeless, powerless to help, and separate people from the true Creator, God. Abraham's father, Terah, was known for serving other gods (Joshua 24:2). The Israelites were people who grew impatient while Moses was on Mount Sinai and pressured Aaron to make a god out of gold to lead them (Exodus 32:2-6).
There are consequences when a person breaks God’s commandments. For Aaron and the Israelites, it was God’s anger. He was furious with the Israelites and threatened to destroy them, but Moses prayed and asked God to spare them (Exodus 32:10). There is also the punishment of separation from the real God. God told Moses He would not travel with them directly in their midst to prevent Himself from destroying them along the way (Exodus 33:1-6).
The Israelites and Aaron are not alone in their mistake of making idols and following them instead of God. King Solomon is another person who turned from God by following idols and having other gods before God Himself. In King Solomon’s case he was influenced by real humans – his foreign wives. These women caused him to turn away from God by influencing his heart to worship false gods as he grew old. God also was angry with Solomon. But God warned him this would happen if Israelites were to intermarry (1Kings 11:1-2). The wives would turn Solomon’s heart toward other gods (1Kings 11:1-2).
This is a clear warning to us; it can happen to us also if we disobey God’s first commandment which says: “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
When someone does disobey, then they could suffer the same consequences as Solomon. God announced that the kingdom would be torn away from his family line and given to given to his servant, leaving Solomon's son with just one tribe (1 Kings 11:11-13). Turning to other gods made from wood, gold or other things is viewed as a betrayal of the living God who provides life and breath to everything and everyone (Acts 17:25). He is the only true God. He is the only one worthy of our praise.
People must put God at the absolute center of their life and give Him their ultimate loyalty. Treating God as the ultimate source of life protects us from harm.