One of the biggest advantages of reading the entire Bible is that, as we journey through all the books, we find holistic information. This makes us realize that the Bible was actually compiled to be read wholly.

Here is one such instance that stresses this fact.

Reading through the book of Exodus, one would think that the golden calf that was made by Aaron was the first idol that the Israelites molded and worshipped (Ex. 32).

However, their idolatry started way back in Egypt, before and even while they were crying for deliverance from the bondage of Pharaoh.

Joshua 24:14–15(NKJV)

14 - "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!

15 - And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

“The other side of the River” refers to where Abraham’s family was before the LORD called him out (verse 2). This was Ur in ancient Mesopotamia (Gen. 11:27–31, Acts 7:2).

In Genesis 46, we see how Israel (Jacob) and his family left for Egypt during the severe famine, after being summoned by Joseph who was a great and prominent man in Egypt at the time.

Sadly, in Egypt, the children of Israel were influenced by the worship of the Egyptians and did likewise.

Ezekiel 20:5–10(NKJV)

5 - "Say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD: "On the day when I chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, "I am the LORD your God.'

6 - On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, "flowing with milk and honey,' the glory of all lands.

7 - Then I said to them, "Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'

8 - But they rebelled against Me and would not obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, "I will pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.'

9 - But I acted for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

10 - "Therefore I made them go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.

We see the same emphasized in Ezekiel 23.

So, in the end, after they were delivered from Egypt, when God gave the first two commandments on Mount Sinai—“You shall have no other gods before Me” and “You shall not make for yourself any carved image and bow down to them” (Exodus 20:3–5)— it wasn’t just because He knew their tendencies but also because they had a track record of idolatry already.

When God commanded in Deuteronomy 12:30 that, when He brings them to the promised land and drives out the heathen nations from it, they should not inquire to find out how those nations worshipped their gods to do likewise, it wasn't only because it was a possibility; they had done it before in Egypt, their land of bondage.

Victor Ibosiola © 2025