That feeling isn't new. Our ancestors wrestled with it too, and the ancient text Sifrei Devarim (a commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy) speaks directly to this.

It quotes Deuteronomy, saying "They sacrificed to demons, which availed naught." What does that even mean?

The text goes on to explain: If people were worshipping things that at least tangentially benefit the world – the sun, the moon, the stars – well, God's anger wouldn't be as intense. But to turn to things that offer absolutely no benefit, things that are actively detrimental? That's where things get really serious. These detrimental things are described as sheidim, demons. The Sifrei Devarim explains that a shed, or demon, enters a person and overpowers them. Think of it as an obsession, something that takes control and leads you down a destructive path.

So, it's not just about worshipping the wrong thing, but about being consumed by something harmful and empty.

Then comes the phrase, "gods they had not known." The Sifrei Devarim interprets this to mean that even other nations didn't recognize these "gods." They were novel, untested, and ultimately, hollow. "New ones, newly come," the text continues. And here's where it gets really interesting.

"Whenever a gentile saw it he would say 'This is a Jewish image.'" Wait, what?

The text then cites Isaiah 10:10: "Just as my hand has overpowered the kingdoms of the false god — and their graven images are from Jerusalem and Shomron." The Sifrei Devarim draws a fascinating, and rather damning, conclusion: Jerusalem and Shomron, two key Israelite cities, were actually supplying the molds for these idols! They were mass-producing emptiness. The very places that should have been centers of spiritual strength and devotion were, in a sense, exporting spiritual emptiness to the rest of the world.

It's a stark reminder that the pursuit of something shiny and new doesn't guarantee fulfillment. It also reminds us that systems can be corrupted, even those that are ostensibly "holy." The Sifrei Devarim challenges us to examine what we truly value, what we're investing our energy in, and whether it's leading us towards something meaningful or just deeper into the void.

What molds are we creating? What are we exporting to the world? And, more importantly, are those things truly nourishing, or are they just empty idols in disguise?