A question about Baal worship

2 Kings 17:10-11 They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree. There they burned incense on all the high places, like the nations whom the Lord had carried away before them; and they did wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger...

2 Kings 17:10, 16-17 They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree. So they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.
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What was so very attractive about Baal worship to the Israelites? In other words, did they perceive some benefit? I have a hard time understanding the attraction. Generally great sin is committed because a person is deceived into thinking it is somehow "worth it." I don't understand this when it comes to this Baal worship by the Israelites- especially when they experienced Gods many judgments because of it.

When God created us, He breathed into us the "breath of life". This is the faculty through which we can enjoy communion with Him. However, the fall opened up the same part of our being to the influence of evil spirits. Christians fail to realize the part the spiritual world plays to influence our thinking. When we are not redeemed and filled with the Spirit of God our spirits become sitting ducks for the delusion of evil spirits and we can end up doing absurd evils which defy logic. Likewise, when we allow our hearts to be drawn away from God by the allure of the praise of men, riches, lust of the flesh etc. we again open up our hearts to "strong delusion". Hence we see people who once were on fire for God fall into degrading iniquity. Because we are made by God to be spiritual beings infilled by His Spirit there is much more than logic and intellectual reasoning determining how we live.

David

I understand what you are saying and agree; I am just wondering specifically what drew them to Baal worship; what did they think they were getting out of it?

My understanding (which is limited) is that Baal is associated with the lust of the eyes or acquisition of things,... in contrast to Ashtoreth which being associated with the lust of the flesh or an illicit experience- Where Moloch is associated with the pride of life or power to control- godlike.

At least that's how Paris Reidhead taught it if my memory serves me correctly.
You know it's interesting that all 3 were observed in the garden with Eve, the fruit "looked" good - lust of the eyes
was forbidden- lust of the flesh
make you like God- pride of life

It seems they follow progressively, when we get the thing we want and it doesn't fulfill us then we seek experience only to then find it didn't satisfy we often seek power...

I've (for some reason) always thought of Baal, Ashtoreth, & Moloch as demonic gubernatorialships, like they have certain areas they oversee and are representative of a "toehold", "foothold", and "stronghold"....

As some have pointed out, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are the ways in which Satan tempts man. It is always the same. The Scriptures in 2 Kings are a testimony of where man ends up when he rejects God and follows the temptations that are impressed upon the mind of the individual. So the one who follows the temptation will come to worship the creation as oppose to the Creator. The end result is the unfulfilled thirst for more that does not satisfy.

As Jesus taught the woman at the well, if you continue to seek relationships with men you will continue to thirst. If you drink of the water I have to give you you will thirst no more. Those who drink from the broken cistern will do things like those in 2 Kings.

Baal worship was shared experiences of those who have suffered the manifestation of sin that kills the individual. That is how Satan destroys.

I agree with your observations. Baal worship gave them an "excuse" to pursue and try to satisfy lustful desires. That's what they were getting out of it. They were getting nothing from Baal or Astoreth, obviously (they don't exist).

I don't think it was done in ignorance at all.

We cannot judge the Israelites by our Spirit-filled walk with Christ. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they did not.

"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:17

My two cents!!
God bless,
Lisa

Yes Lysa but burning their children to death? They knew what they were doing was wrong. But the orgies made it worth it. Pretty disgusting.

All it proves to me is God's outrageous patience.

I remember while in Israel last year that we visited Dan where Jeroboam set up a golden calf for the people to worship. He placed it there to entice the people to worship there instead of going to Jerusalem. I just didn't get it. I asked my fellow travelers how Jeroboam could have been so bold as to erect such a in your face provocation to God. Did he think it was going to go unnoticed or something? I still don't get it.

In my observation people who live in rebellion are not logical or sensible, making it impossible for sensible people to make sense of their stupid decision - like Baal worship that utilized child sacrifice in their worship. To answer your question I would say the devil blinded their emotions of pity, compassion to where they were hardened enough to accept the torture that led to the killing of their children. Too bad the Baal priests and their followers where not afforded the same treatment...wonder why? See how much fun that is..

My opinion.

Sandra

Sandra wrote:

"To answer your question I would say the devil blinded their emotions of pity, compassion to where they were hardened enough to accept the torture that led to the killing of their children."

Unfortunately, this is still occurring today. There exists an elite group of individuals all over the world who participate in this activity. If you noticed lately, all of a sudden there is story after story of child predators being arrested. There was a story about 3 months ago in Los Angeles where children were found locked up in cages. The story aired for one day only. The powers that be have tried to silence these events.

Even the Pope's right hand man, a Cardinal in Australia was just arrested for savage behavior.

by TMK
Yes Lysa but burning their children to death? They knew what they were doing was wrong.

I was just reading in 2 Kings how Josiah's workmen uncovered a copy of Torah while they were cleaning out the temple. The impression given is that many many years (generations?) did not have access to the written law. Josiah was appropriately freaked out because he realized that none of the law and in particular Passover had not been observed for years and years. It seems hard to believe that this was the only copy of the Torah available but that it had been misplaced.

Still, it would exceedingly generous to say the Israelites turned to Baal because they didn't know any better.

Of course we have Bibles all over the place in the US and look how far we have fallen. Apparently having the written word is not enough.

//I'd like for you to explain how you know that they knew they were doing wrong? //

We are talking about Israelites, not canaanites. For that matter I'd even say the canaanites knew it was wrong.

What was so very attractive about Baal worship to the Israelites? In other words, did they perceive some benefit? I have a hard time understanding the attraction.

I think the answer is in one of the verses that you quoted.

There they burned incense on all the high places, like the nations whom the Lord had carried away before them;

They were attracted to Baal worship by the nations surrounding them that worshipped Baal. I came from Hindu faith in India. I have seen how the Christians in India have lot of Hindu practices in their life. When they buy a new home, they bring a cow into the house first. They check for auspicious days from Hindu priests. Some even place some Hindu Idols in their home. These are regular Church goers who profess Christianity.

How did they become like this? They were influenced by their Hindu neighbors. When something good happen to a Hindu neighbor because they worshiped a cow, then even these Christians bring a cow to their home expecting the same material blessings as the Hindu receives. The same can be said about Hindu Idols.

Same way when Israelites observed that Baal was blessing their neighboring nations, then they too wanted to be part of Baal worship. Baal did not give them any difficult commandments to follow. Baal did not expect them to follow the 10 commandments. All that was needed is some external sacrifices, which are easy.

Sree- I get what you are saying but Baal wasn't blessing anyone, was he? (Because he doesn't exist?)

I really think that something about the practice of Baal worship drew them- likely the sexual perversion

Sree- I get what you are saying but Baal wasn't blessing anyone, was he? (Because he doesn't exist?)

It is actually not Baal or any Hindu God that blesses people. It is actually the one and only true living God who blesses people. But when a Christian sees a Hindu neighbor being blessed, he will try to worship the same God whom the neighbor worshiped.

I really think that something about the practice of Baal worship drew them- likely the sexual perversion

Yes it can be. I am only posting my opinion based on my observation of Indian Christians who are influenced by Hindu Gods. Having seen these things, it is very easy for me to believe that Israelites who saw so many mighty works of God, still went behind idols like Baal.

by TMK
We are talking about Israelites, not canaanites. For that matter I'd even say the canaanites knew it was wrong.

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. ~ Judges 2:10

But how then do you deal with Romans 1?