Deuteronomy 4: 15 You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, 16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, 18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below.

The question becomes, what does God consider an idol? After all, isn't Yeshua allegedly God in the shape of a man?

Habakkuk 2: 18 "Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. 19 Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!' Or to lifeless stone, 'Wake up!' Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.

Throughout the Torah and Haphtarah (and best represented in Habakkuk 2), an idol is described as a lifeless creation shaped (literally) by man from wood, stone, or metal. These manmade creations never bear any relationship to the God of Israel.

By sharp contrast, Yeshua represents the God of Israel's choice to empty himself into a living man in order to act as an intercessor between man and Himself. (See Isaiah 59:16; see also Matthew 10:32)

But wait! Doesn't Deuteronomy 4 indicate that God is without form? At times, yes. But one must not forget that God "takes form" as a man in Genesis 18:1-2. God also "takes form" in Numbers 12: 8 With him (Moses) I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.

The point is that at this point in Jewish history, God chose only to reveal His form in select circumstances. However, the notion that God "taking form" is tantamount to idol worship is simply not true. Deuteronomy 4 must be considered in the context of these other Torah passages - including the following:

Deuteronomy 18: 15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me (Moses) from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die." 17 The LORD said to me: "What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth (word of God in a man), and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.

It is important to note that God is not simply speaking of the prophets in general (Isaiah, Eziekel, etc.), but "a prophet" as great as Moses. A prophet that will play a role far greater than those played by traditional prophets, whom God communicates with through visions and dreams. (See Numbers 12:6.)

Taking these passages together, the concept of what constitutes idol worship and its applicability to Yeshua is placed in some context. Please review other articles on this website for additional information as you continue your journey.