Why are there statues and images if we are not to have “graven images” (the 2nd Commandment)?

The second commandment is very specific: "..shall not make for yourself an image.."; the second part of Verse 4 details the forbidden graven images "... in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." Then Verse 5 offers a deeper understanding as to why. The first two commandments are contrary to all the poly-theism religions of the Egyptians and surrounding peoples, both known and what they will encounter in the future.

Exodus 20:1-11  New International Version (NIV)
       The Ten Commandments
1 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

The first four commandments directly deal with our relationship with God. The second, third, and fourth Commandments enforce the 1st Commandment of how ‘not’ and how ‘to’ proceed in worshiping God and excluding all other gods. The clarification of the forbidden graven, or sculptured, images is given. It relates to worshipping ‘false gods.’ This was prevalent with both the religion of the Egyptians and the religions of the forthcoming nations the Israelites would encounter. The understanding of the restriction of making graven images as a “god” rather than creating graven images for other purposes becomes clearer in light of subsequent directions from God to Moses to make graven images of angels and a snake. The sculptures are not for the purpose of worship; rather, they are for reflection and ornamentation.

Exodus 25:1-22  New International Version (NIV)
       Offerings for the Tabernacle
1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

       The Ark
10 “Have them make an ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. 11 Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. 12 Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 13 Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. 15 The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. 16 Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you.

17 “Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19 Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. 20 The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.

 
The graven (sculpted) images of the cherub angels are not for worship. Although representing the supernatural, the images are inspirational and to aid us in our reflection of the nature and contents of the Ark. Later in the Torah (first five books of the Bible) God instructs Moses to have another graven image made. In this account, many Israelites were suffering from snakebite in the desert and God responds with instructions for Moses to mold an image of an animal.

Numbers 21:1-9  New International Version (NIV)
 
1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 2 Then Israel made this vow to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities.” 3 The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.

4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

The gold cherubim and the bronze snake were not objects of worship. The cherubim symbolized the presence of God's angels at the Ark of the Covenant, and the bronze serpent was a reminder to the Israelites of the snakes who bit them after their sin of speaking against God and God's forgiveness and healing of those who seek it.

Images can be reminders, and some can evoke emotions. Seeing a cross can remind people of Christ’s presence, of Him taking up His Cross and for us taking up our cross, every day. Seeing a crucifix, a cross containing an image of Jesus crucified, can remind people of some of the specifics of Jesus’ sacrifice; the extent of His Love for us – even unto death; and how our sufferings, however severe, often pale in comparison to the Suffering of Jesus during His Death. Looking at a cross or crucifix can also help us to reflect on how we can join our suffering to that of Christ. Redemptive suffering.

Excerpts from: Michael J Heiman  Religious Mysteries and Other Questions Revealed ©2018