No, they were worshipping it. It says that in the scripture. But let's address the verse you quote...
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Now, let's complete this verse with Exo 20:5 "thou shalt no bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord the God am a jealous God, ..."
It's pretty clear that God prohibits the making of images for the purpose of worhipping them.
I really wanted to know. Since IMRight is gone for awhile can somebody please tell me if the previously posted Boniface proclamation was ever a part of the Magisterium?
God might say, "What part of ANY didn't you understand?"
God didn't say it was okay to make an image of something on earth, heaven or the water as long as you think you're worshipping me, he said "ANY".
In 20:5, he says "don't bow down before them" OR "worship them". I don't know about you, but I've seen plenty of Christians bowing down before a crucifix or a cross, or a picture of Jesus. The worshipping of the "image" of God or Christ is just as bad as worshipping to an idol because you are limiting the infinite to a picture or a symbol while you are trying to commune.