The Great God "Convenience"

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. - Leviticus 20:1-2

When God laid down the law to the children of Israel, He knew that certain Israelites were blaspheming by making their children "pass through the fire to Molech" (Leviticus 18:21). Some Biblical scholars believe, with good reason, that children were literally burned alive in sacrifice. Other scholars think it meant that parents were offering up their children as temple prostitutes. Either way, children were being sacrificed to a pagan deity. God clearly condemned the practice and promised terrible retribution to those who participated.

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD," wrote the psalmist, "and the fruit of the womb is his reward." (Psalm 127:3) Indeed, children are a beautiful gift from God and should be cherished and protected from iniquity until they are able to fend for themselves. Sometimes, of course, this is not possible and children fall prey to adverse adult behavior. Parents divorce and a child is affected. Parents get drunk or strung out on dope, and children are affected. Adults sometimes abuse the young and only intervention by authorities put a stop to it. But aren't we fortunate that children are no longer sacrificed to pagan deities? Aren't we? Think again.

False gods have a tendency overstay their welcome and when one falls out a favor, another takes its place. Today, many worship the great god "Convenience". Convenience is an affliction that influences almost everyone. We must have convenient parking for shopping. The packaged food we buy must be convenient to prepare. Our many work-saving appliances make life convenient. And, tragically, the arrival of some children must also be convenient to our lifestyles as well. It may be true that people no longer sacrifice their children to Molech. But some are sacrificed to Convenience, instead. The high priest no longer rings bells or waves censors of smoking incense. The new high priest wields the knife, the surgical vacuum and the mallet.

Is child sacrifice really dead, or does the altar remain fully functional and ready for even more victims?

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Ed Price spent 35 years in print and broadcast journalism. He is author of 15 books. After becoming an ordained minister he settled with his wife on a farm in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, to study God's word and to write. Ed and Patty are the parents of three girls, have one grandchild, and cater to the every whim of two spoiled cats.
© 2009 Ed Price - All rights reserved. Visit his website, The Loving Heart.

This column is used with permission.