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Response
Throughout the Old Testament, we encounter stories of idol worship among the Israelites, particularly the veneration of Baal and Asherah, or at times Baal and Ashtoreth. The idolatry that surrounded the people of God infiltrated their community, took root, and resulted in significant suffering. It became an ongoing challenge to remain faithful to their God.
God had instructed Israel not to engage in idol worship (Exodus 20:3;Deuteronomy 5:7)—in fact, they were even prohibited from mentioning the name of false gods «And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. », (Exodus 23:13). To avoid falling into compromise, they were cautioned against marrying individuals from pagan nations and participating in activities that could be interpreted as pagan rituals (Leviticus 20:23;2 Kings 17:15;Ezekiel 11:12). Israel was the chosen nation of God, destined to bring forth the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Despite their unique heritage and the immense significance of their future, Israel repeatedly succumbed to temptations involving Baal and Asherah.
Baal served as the primary deity in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia. Often depicted as the storm god wielding a raised lightning bolt, he was accompanied by Asherah, the principal female deity symbolized by a carved pole or tree trunk without branches planted in the ground. Baal and Asherah are frequently referenced together in the Scriptures. At times, Baal is linked with the goddess Ashtoreth, who, in Canaanite mythology, shared close ties with Asherah and may have been initially considered the same goddess. All three were fertility deities, and their worship practices included sexual rituals.
After the death of Joshua, the worship of Baal and Asherah became a persistent and recurring issue for Israel. It didn’t take long: in the very next generation after Joshua, “The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs” «And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. », (Judges 3:7). Later, God told the judge Gideon to clean house: “Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it” «And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: », (Judges 6:25). Again, in the days of Jephthah, “the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths” «And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. », (Judges 10:6).
During the monarchy, the kings got involved, forsaking the Lord and bringing the worship of Baal and Asherah into Israel. Under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, Israel was a state sponsor of a Phoenician form of idol worship, and the prophet Elijah had to confront “four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and . . . four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jez.Ebel’s Table” «Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table. », (1 Kings 18:19). The evil King Manasseh of Judah undid all the reforms of his father Hezekiah and “erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole” «For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. », (2 Kings 21:3). In His indictment of Israel before sending them into exile, God said, “They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal” «And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. », (2 Kings 17:16).
There are several reasons why the worship of Baal and Asherah was such a problem for Israel. First, the worship of Baal and Asherah held the allure of illicit sex, since the religion involved ritual prostitution. This is exactly what we see in the incident of Baal of Peor, as “the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods” (Numbers 25:1-2). During this episode, an Israelite named Zimri brazenly brought a Midianite woman into the camp and went straight to his tent, where the two began having sex (verses 6&nda
sh;8, 14–15).
Another reason that the worship of Baal and Asherah was a recurring issue for Israel is what we could refer to as international peer pressure. Israel desired to emulate other nations «and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. », (1 Samuel 8:5,20) «that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. », (1 Samuel 8:5,20). The other nations worshipped Baal and Asherah, leading many Israelites to feel a pull to do the same.
Moreover, Israel worshipped Baal and Asherah due to Satan’s temptations combined with mankind’s sinfulness. The adversary of our souls tempted Israel to worship idols; the offerings made to Baal and Asherah were essentially offerings to demons «But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. », (1 Corinthians 10:20). The obstinate willfulness of humanity works hand in hand with Satan’s seductions, resulting in rebellion against God. Israel repeatedly abandoned their covenant with God, forfeited God’s blessings, and pursued the Baals and Asherahs to their own ruin.
The book of Hosea fittingly uses adultery as a metaphor to depict Israel’s idol worship. Turning away from the God of their covenant and pursuing false gods like Baal and Asherah was akin to spiritual adultery. However, God pledged to restore His unfaithful people and love them eternally:
“In that day,” declares the Lord, . . .
“I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips;
no longer will their name
Verses to be invoked…
I will betroth you to me eternally;
I will unite with you in righteousness and justice,
in affection and empathy.
I will unite with you faithfully
and you will recognize the Lord.”
