Question: What is prostration, and do we Christians have a command to bow down before God? What is Prostration? Prostration is the act of bowing down, often by lowering the head toward the ground as a sign of worship or giving reverence to God, a person, or even Satan. Beyond mere bowing, it may involve kneeling and lowering the head until it touches the ground (see 2 Chronicles 7:3). The Scriptures show us numerous instances of people prostrating themselves before God, some bowing to human beings, and others, sadly, bowing to Satan. 1. People Bowing to God A good example of someone bowing before God is the servant Abraham sent to find a wife for his son Isaac. When he met Rebekah and realized she was the chosen one, the servant immediately worshiped the Lord. Genesis 24:26–27 (NKJV):“Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. And he said, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.’” Others who worshiped God through prostration include: Moses (see Exodus 34:8–9) The children of Israel when God’s glory filled the Temple (see 2 Chronicles 7:3) Ezra the scribe and others with him (see Nehemiah 8:6) 2. People Bowing to Angels A notable example is the Apostle John, who attempted to worship the angel who revealed the visions to him. Revelation 22:8–9 (NKJV):“Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.Then he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’” Another example is Joshua, who bowed before the Angel of the Lord (see Joshua 5:14). 3. People Bowing to Humans There are biblical examples of people bowing before other human beings, such as the eleven sons of Jacob who bowed before Joseph in Egypt. Genesis 43:28 (NKJV):“And they said, ‘Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.’ And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves.” Others who bowed before humans include: Joab (see 2 Samuel 14:22) Araunah (see 2 Samuel 24:20) The woman from Tekoa (see 2 Samuel 14:4) Haman, who was bowed to by the people (see Esther 3:2) 4. People Bowing to Satan and False gods A tragic example is the Israelites who worshiped the gods of Moab. Numbers 25:1–3 (NKJV):“Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel.” Another example is King Jeroboam, who led Israel into idolatry (see 1 Kings 16:31). So, Should Born-again Christians (Under the New Covenant) Worship Through Prostration? Answer: YES!But the only One who deserves such worship is God alone. We are not to worship angels or humans in any form. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself directly taught this truth. Matthew 4:8–10 (NKJV):“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”’” Thus, only God is worthy of worship. Worship Must Be in Spirit and Truth According to the teachings of Christ, worship—whether through prostration or otherwise—must be done in spirit and in truth (see John 4:23–24). Prostration (falling down before God) is especially appropriate in prayers of repentance, mercy, and humble requests, because it expresses brokenness and humility. However, prostration is not a legal requirement for prayer. God doesn’t require that every prayer include physical bowing, and prayers without it are not automatically rejected. Instead, it is an act that flows from spiritual prompting and a burden of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord help us. Share this good news with others! If you would like to receive Jesus Christ into your life freely, please contact us using the numbers below this article. To receive daily teachings via WhatsApp, join our channel by clicking this link >> https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBVhuA3WHTbKoz8jx10 Contact: +255789001312 or +255693036618May the Lord bless you