God or power?

"I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery. No other gods, only me. No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am God, your God, and I'm a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. But I'm unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments."

Wouldn't you want to be in on that 1,000th generation deal?

The charge against God's people, "You led the daughter of Zion into trusting not God but chariots."

Other than caring for widows and orphans, the Old Testament is littered with this command from God, "Worship me, not gods that you can control."

When we follow God intently, give and sacrifice in such a way that we need to trust in God for daily bread, we are left to rely on the Holy and Life Giving Spirit to keep us going, to give us the words we ought to say, the strength to serve in the ways we're called. A life of faith truly embraced is hard.

But having mountains crumble around you is no picnic either.