Four Brothers

Read Genesis 34:1 through 36:43

A tale of four royal brothers is told in India. Each brother decided to acquire a special ability. The first brother learned to create flesh from the bone of any creature. The second could create skin and hair from the flesh. The third could create limbs from what his brothers had created. And the fourth brother could give life to any creature that had its form.

Eager to demonstrate their abilities, the brothers found a bone and used their newfound knowledge to give life to a lion. Their ferocious creation arose, shook its mane, and devoured the four brothers.

We too have the ability to create what can devour us. When we offer our affection to someone or something other than God, we are creating an idol—capable of causing our ruin.

Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you.” . . . So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had . . . and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem (Genesis 35:2,4).

Challenge for Today: Determine to bury any affection that has superseded your desire for God.