The bulk of the chapter is an account of the locations where Israel made and broke camp during their 40+ year trek through the wilderness. The account begins with them leaving Egypt, and ends with them resting in the plains of Moab. If you’d like to read the list of 40+ stops they made, please do so. I’ll focus on the closing few verses.
“On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: “When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.” ‘ ” (v50-53,55-56)
This powerful picture is still valid today in light of our sinful culture. Just as God commanded Israel to drive out those who do not honor or obey Him, lest they cause Israel to sin, we are given a similar commandment.
There are many reasons we should not allow any temptation (and those who would tempt us to sin) around us for any length of time. Paul reminds us “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ ” (1 Cor 15:33) and “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rm 12:2) Peter reminds us “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Pt 5:8) Jesus reminds His disciples “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mt 6:41)
If we do not set ourselves apart as God’s holy people, we can conform to the world, be corrupted by bad company, be consumed by our enemy the devil, and fall into all kinds of temptation, for our flesh is weak.
I’m not suggesting we literally drive our neighbors out of their houses – what I’m suggesting is we don’t set up camp with someone in their sin, because that sin will eventually become our own. Do we help someone with an addiction by participating in that addiction with them? No, of course not, lest we too become addicted. This means walking beside someone on their journey toward reconciliation with God, but relying on God’s spirit to keep us from falling into sin along the way. We need to remain spiritually set apart from this world (sin, temptation), and not allow the enemy any footholds in our heart. God is a jealous God, and wants our hearts solely for himself.
Is this easy? No, of course not. How do we accomplish this? As mentioned, the only way to “be in the world and not of the world” is with God’s help. My challenge today is to live out these verses of Paul’s. He encourages us to be weak on purpose – to have humble wills and fully submit to God. When we are “weakest”, then God can show His strength in and through us. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:9-10)
Father, O Sovereign God of Israel, holy is Your name. Your grace is sufficient for us, and Your power is made perfect in our weakness. May Jesus’ power rest on us, so we may be strong through Your Spirit living within us. May we not boast in our own strength, but fully surrender to You and Your will in our lives. Only then can we be protected from temptation and folly. Jesus, please help us to do this. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training