Daily Devotionals

The ancient pagan cultures of the world worshiped many false gods, often in connection with the worship of the sun. One such god was named Milcom, alternatively called Molech, Moloch, or Malcham. This god was said to require human sacrifice, often of children and preferably first-born children, as a condition of replenishing the heat and strength of the sun.

Various accounts of ancient Milcom worship depict statues of the god hollowed-out to allow for a fire to burn within. The sacrificial child would be placed in the statue’s mouth to fall into the flames—or be placed upon the statue’s outstretched hands to slowly roast the child from the heat within. The cries of the anguished child would be drowned out by loud drums and music. These rituals were collectively called “passing through the fire.”

Human sacrifice is abhorrent to the God of Israel. Mankind was made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27), and God holds human beings accountable when they shed human blood; by killing another human, they are killing the image of God. (See Genesis 9:6.)

When foretelling of His triumphant restoration of Israel after their captivity in Babylon, God not only pronounces judgment on the surrounding pagan nations, but also of their gods. He declared that “Milcom shall go into captivity With his priests and his princes together” (Jeremiah 49:3). To allow a religion to survive when it requires human sacrifice was unacceptable to the Lord.

God promises to protect His children from passing through spiritual fires as well. Like the faithful Hebrews thrown into the fiery furnace in Daniel chapter 3, God will protect His faithful followers when they face fiery trials of their own.

Key Bible Texts

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:2 KJV)