God’s Image

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:26-27; Exodus 20:4

“Grandma, what does ‘graven image’ mean?” Sapphire asked as she paged through her grandmother’s Bible. “One of the Ten Commandments says not to make any graven images. I’ve read that verse before, but I don’t think my Bible says it like that.”

“A graven image is a statue or other physical likeness that people make out of something like gold, silver, or stone to worship,” said Grandma. “They were very common in the nations around Israel during Bible times, and many people in some parts of the world have them today.”

“So it’s an idol,” said Sapphire.

“Yes, it often refers to the image of a false god that doesn’t exist. But God was also forbidding the Israelites to make images of Him, because no human-made image could ever portray God as He truly is.”

“People don’t do that in our time, do they?” asked Sapphire. “I haven’t seen any images of God like that.”

“Well, maybe not physical images,” said Grandma. “But it’s possible to get a false image of God stuck in our heads.”

“Like what?” asked Sapphire.

“Well, for example, it’s possible to make an image of God in our minds that looks a lot like us. We often feel more comfortable with people who look, act, and think like us, and we might wrongly think God is more comfortable with people like us too. But God made people of every race, culture, and language in His image, and He loves them all the same.” Grandma smiled at Sapphire. “In fact, that’s one reason why God forbids graven images of Himself—because if we want to see what His image looks like, all we need to do is look around! Every single person on earth bears His image in their intellect, creativity, and free will, to name a few things. But there’s one person who shows us God’s image more than any other. Do you know who that is?”

Sapphire grinned. “I’m guessing it’s Jesus?”

“Right!” said Grandma. “Jesus shows us exactly what God is like because He is God. In Him we see God’s character and His great love for all people. We worship Jesus, who became one of us and is always with those who trust in Him. That’s better than anything you can carve out of stone.”

-Courtney Lasater

How About You?

Do you want to know what God is like? His image can’t be captured in wood or stone because His greatness is beyond our imagining. His likeness can be seen in the people around you, because He created all people in His image. But to get a full picture of what God is like, look to Jesus, who is revealed to us in God’s Word, the Bible. He is God in human form, and He is always with us.

Today’s Key Verse: Colossians 2:9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus shows us who God is