AP

Numbers 29:40    Moses told the Israelites all that the LORD commanded him

Why are there ANY religions in the world?  Because God has made Man in his own image and likeness, and therefore, unlike the whole animal kingdom, we have, built into our DNA, a desire for our Creator that cannot be satisfied apart from him, and we will seek him in order to find meaning in our lives and existence.

Why are there SO MANY religions in the world?  Because, in the original Garden of Eden, we were not satisfied with God’s manifesto for a satisfying and fulfilling relationship with God through obedience to his commands, but we wanted to find it OUR way, on OUR terms.  In other words, instead of being satisfied, and finding joy, in being in the IMAGE and LIKENESS of God on HIS terms, we wanted to BE God on OUR terms.  This is what SIN is, and it has infected the whole human race descended from Adam & Eve (Romans 5:12).  In this scenario, with sinful Man trying to find his way back to God in search of peace and happiness, it is inevitable that there will be MANY religions!

But a gracious God has not left Man in this futile, never-satisfying search.  No!  HE has come searching for us.  The clear revelation he has made of himself is enough to leave us WITHOUT EXCUSE for remaining ignorant; but our sinful hearts/minds remain blind to this revelation.  As the Apostle Paul declares: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. …” (Romans 1:18-23).

So God has provided two other very clear revelations: His Written Word, the Bible; and his own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, coming in human flesh and declaring: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9b).  One of the key instruments God used to reveal himself through Scripture was MOSES.  So, in today’s verse, we see Moses’ faithful obedience in transmitting God’s Word, as is testified by the Author of Hebrews: “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future.” (3:5).  In the light of ALL this, there is no place for treating Christianity as ‘just another religion’ on the same footing as all others!  We do so to our own peril.