 Maimonides taught that because idolatrous religions promised great reward in length of life, protection from illness, exemption from bodily deformities, and plenty of produce, Scripture teaches, in order that people should abandon idolatry, that blessings actually flow from the reverse of what the idolatrous priests preached to the people.Maimonides interpreted “And you shall walk in His ways,” to command a person to walk in intermediate paths, near the midpoint between extremes of character.And Maimonides reported that the Sages explained the commandment of to teach that just as God is called “Gracious,” one should be gracious; just as God is called “Merciful,” one should be merciful; just as God is called “Holy,” one should be holy; and just as the prophets called God “Slow to anger,” “Abundant in kindness,” “Righteous,” “Just,” “Perfect,” “Almighty,” “Powerful,” and the like, one is obligated to accustom oneself to these paths and to try to resemble God to the extent of one's ability.