He followed completely the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols. 1 Kings 16:26 ,

Going against someone and dishonoring that person can make him very angry. No one likes to be dishonored, yet many people will dishonor others in order to do their own thing. Many will go against the rules of their leaders to push the limits of what they are allowed to do and to be their own person, not limited by rules and regulations.

When Omri became king of Israel, he led the people in the same sins as Jeroboam and aroused God’s anger against Israel because of their worthless idols.

Many people go to church claiming to believe in Jesus and that they are following Him, yet they also have many idols in their lives. Most do not bow down to physical idols as the Israelites did under Omri, but they put things before God.

Instead of bowing down to a false idol, people will put all of their time, attention and money towards things of this world. Not all these things are bad, but often they turn the attention and focus away from God. An underlying belief that those things will make them happy and provide all that they need, rather than trusting in God for everything.

As people in the church do these things, it raises God’s anger against them. God provided forgiveness and salvation at the expense of His Son, only to have Him rejected to follow false gods and idols.

Believers are to find their joy in the Lord and to trust Him for all of their needs. God is willing to forgive, but the believer must turn from all idols and serve God alone.

As a believer you must ask yourself if you are doing anything that will bring God’s anger upon you. Do not allow yourself to trust in the false idols of this world that will only offer temporary pleasure and then death.

Make serving God the entire focus of your life and get rid of any idols in your life. Find the joy in serving and worshipping God for all that He has done for you and is continuing to do for you each day. God can and will give you more than any idol can offer.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will serve God with all of your life; that God will give you strength to flee worthless idols around you; that you will find all of your joy and provision in God alone; and that you will doing nothing to make God angry at you.