Abraham, the father of faith, emerged in the ancient times of the Old Testament. This was a pivotal period because God established His covenantal relationship with His people. Abraham’s record marks a crucial turning point in biblical history. God chose him to be the father of a great nation that would eventually bring forth the Messiah, our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ. The most defining characteristic that is so meaningful to believers is the longing of Abraham’s heart for a son. For years, he dreamed of having a son who would carry on his name and legacy. As the years passed and Abraham grew older, he was convinced all hope was lost. He was well beyond his prime, and so was his wife, Sarah. The dream of fathering a child seemed to slip further from their reach.
God Always Has a Plan
Abraham didn’t know it, but God has an awesome plan for his life. Genesis 12:1-2 (NLT) tells us: “The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.” God promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation when Abraham was 75 years old. It’s important for us to note the significant lapse of time between the promise and its fulfillment. It wasn’t until 25 years later, when Abraham was 100 and his wife Sarah was 90, that they would see the birth of their son, Isaac.
This long waiting period wasn’t all fun and games. The depth of Abraham’s faith took time to cultivate. Wait mode can be taxing on the soul, and for Abraham, it was marked by doubt, fear, pain, and moments of questioning. These often come to the surface when we’re waiting on a blessing to manifest. When they do, we must not disregard these heavies, but confront and overcome them. This is often what makes the delay necessary. During those 25 years, Abraham had to deepen his trust and reliance on the One who had made the promise. Those years of waiting were not wasted; they were a time of refining, testing, and growing Abraham’s faith to the point where he could finally see that nothing, not even his own limitations or the passing of time, could hinder God’s Will.
The First Step: Separation from Idolatry
Genesis 12:1 tells us that God called Abraham to leave his native country, his relatives, and his father’s family. This was the first step of Abraham’s journey toward fulfilling his divine purpose. It began with this crucial step of separation. In the culture of Abraham’s time, fathers were central to the family unit and held all the authority. Their influence shaped not only the household but also the community and spiritual life. To leave his father and his father’s family was no small thing; it meant detaching from everything that Abraham had known and trusted.
We should try to put ourselves in his shoes; being surrounded by siblings and relatives, living comfortably with them, and enjoying their support for much of his life. Abraham was not a young man when God called him, but in his senior years. So, he was immersed, as was the culture then, in the close bonds of a community of family and friends. Imagine how daunting it would be to leave it all behind. There’s no doubt that this tapestry of loved ones was central to his identity, as it is for us in some respect. Yet, Abraham was obedient to God’s request.
Abraham’s father, Terah, was an idolater. In Joshua 24:2 (NLT), it states, “Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.” This sets the stage for understanding the environment in which Abraham grew up. His community was steeped in idolatry, and though the Bible doesn’t explicitly detail how deeply Abraham’s father’s idolatry affected him, we can imagine that it shaped much of his early life and understanding of the world. Idols, whether they are made of stone, wood, or false ideas, are powerful influences on the mind, heart, and behavior of people. They lead people to turn their backs on God and His Will. The constant exposure to this must have subtly affected Abraham’s thoughts, desires, and decisions in some way.
For Abraham to step into the fullness of God’s promise, there had to be a clear break from that idolatrous influence. We have to know that the Lord’s command to “leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family” wasn’t just about geography; it was about separation from the spiritual and cultural influences that would hinder Abraham from fulfilling his divine calling. Idolatry, in all its forms, is an enemy to the prospering soul. It draws people’s attention away from the One True Living God and places it on temporary, powerless things; this is a dark and deadly way to live. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that for Abraham to truly walk in faith and receive His promise, he needed to step away from the old ways, the old patterns, and the old allegiances that had been established in his family.
Its Influence on the Heart
A prospering soul is required for us to fulfill our purpose, become the person God has destined us to be, and to receive all that He has in store for our lives. But we have to recognize that the soul’s prosperity can be hindered by strongholds of sin and toxic patterns. Among the most insidious blockers to a thriving soul are idolatry, the love of money, and the worship of people. The fruition of the promise came to Abraham when his mind, heart, and soul were no longer hindered by doubt and darkness. This is the case with us as well. When we place anything—whether it’s material wealth, the approval of others, or even ourselves—above God, we set up false idols that rob us of peace, joy, and the intimacy in our relationship with Heavenly Father that He requires and deserves.
Idolatry is anything we place above God in our hearts, whether consciously or unconsciously. It’s not just about bowing to statues or worshiping false gods—it’s about what we prioritize, trust, and depend on more than Him. Money, success, relationships, status, or even our own desires can become idols when they take the throne that belongs to God alone. 1 John 5:21 (NLT) warns us: “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” Idolatry isn’t just about misplaced priorities—it deeply affects the condition of our hearts. When we allow something other than God to take center stage, it reshapes the way we think, feel, and respond to Him. Over time, idolatry hardens our hearts, making us less sensitive to God’s voice and more attached to what we crave.
The danger of idolatry is that it creates a divided heart. Instead of fully loving and trusting God, we become torn and fragmented. One part of us still desires Him, but another part is consumed with something else. This inner conflict makes it harder to surrender to His Will. When we idolize money, our hearts grow anxious and restless, constantly striving for more. When we idolize relationships, our hearts become dependent on people for validation and security, rather than resting in God’s love. When we idolize success, our hearts become full of pride. We start to measure our worth by achievements rather than by God’s grace. This sets us up for disaster.
Jesus Christ said in John 4:24 (NLT): “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Idolatry corrodes the heart in a way that disconnects it from worshipping God in spirit and truth. It blinds the heart, distorts our perception, and makes us justify the compromises we’ve made against our faith. We convince ourselves that our desires are harmless, even when they are pulling us away from God. The more we chase after these things, the less room we leave for His presence.
God desires undivided devotion because He knows that anything we elevate above Him will ultimately leave us empty. The only cure for an idolatrous heart is to return to Him in full surrender. When we let go of the things we’ve clung to and allow God to take His rightful place, our hearts find the peace, joy, and fulfillment they were created for. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Part 2- The Blockers of Idolatry, Love of Money, and People Worship”, written by Rev. Fran Mack. Edits by Kim Times and K. Lizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.