Idolatry = Harlotry

Exodus 34.12-16: 12 Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst.
13 But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim
14 --for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God--
15 otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice,
16 and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods.

Worshiping other gods is ‘playing the harlot’. What does this mean? What do harlots do, fundamentally? They exchange sexual intimacy for money. They seek and give pleasure to anyone who will give something in return. Fidelity, honor, exclusivity is abandoned for the temporary pleasures of the flesh.

This is very different from what a wife does. A wife gives intimacy to her husband who receives it gladly and reciprocates out of love. It is a selfless type of giving and receiving that is monogamous, exclusive, and morally pure (not to mention fun!).

Does this mean that anyone who gives of themselves to anything other than God for favors/wealth/pleasures is prostituting himself? Does this mean that favors/wealth/pleasures are the domain of God alone and that receiving them from His hand is the only proper way to receive them at all?

There is nothing wrong with favors/wealth/pleasures, inherently. But they must be received from God in His time and with His blessing.

So often, it is not what we want that is problematic, it is when we want it and from whom!

God knows how to enjoy life! He created it, for goodness sake! He enjoys allowing us to have intimacy with our mates.

But as much as I enjoy a good piece of German Chocolate cake, a la mode, God doesn’t intend for me to have German Chocolate cake at any time, day, or place my body might crave it.

The lesson here is NOT to avoid all pleasure, but to take it when it is obviously from His hand.