But second, images mislead men. To use the illustration of Aaron, surely Aaron may have been well-meaning in what he did. However, as the people bowed down to the calf they began to see God in that calf. I know it is silly. But people do it.
People pray to statues and pictures.
Come on, haven't you ever had a good luck charm or been superstitious. We've all viewed lifeless things as if they had some power. It is not a stretch to think that we would begin to view the symbols of God as if they were God. But this command does not only apply to pictures, statutes and other trinkets, it also applies to our thoughts. Theologian J.I. Packer writes, Imagining God in our heads can be just as real a breach of the second commandment as imagining Him by the work of our hands.