Exodus 20:5 says that you’re not to bow down to them or worship them. Then 5 chapters later God commands for 2 cherubim of hammered gold to be placed on the mercy seat. (Ex. 25:18-20). Clearly the law is not against making images as such, but against worshipping them. In those days nobody knew what God looked like, but in the fulness of time,when Jesus became God Incarnate, He accepted the worship of the disciples. In fact, Christ is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). The Greek word for "image"is “ikonos”, which comes into English as the word “icon” God is now representable materially. Therefore the figure on the hilltop is kosher, and not sacrilegious. Any respect shown to the image of God extends to God himself. Hope this clears up any misunderstanding.
Exodus 20:5 says that you’re not to bow down to them or worship them. Then 5 chapters later God commands for 2 cherubim of hammered gold to be placed on the mercy seat. (Ex. 25:18-20). Clearly the law is not against making images as such, but against worshipping them. In those days nobody knew what God looked like, but in the fulness of time,when Jesus became God Incarnate, He accepted the worship of the disciples. In fact, Christ is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). The Greek word for "image"is “ikonos”, which comes into English as the word “icon” God is now representable materially. Therefore the figure on the hilltop is kosher, and not sacrilegious. Any respect shown to the image of God extends to God himself. Hope this clears up any misunderstanding.