Don’t play with fire
Devotion In Motion
Midweek Inspiration
Joshua 23:1-12
“Now it came to pass, a long time after the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies roundabout, that Joshua was old, advanced in age. And Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them: “I am old, advanced in age. You have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He who has fought for you.”
Notice the General takes none of the credit. Joshua knows the Lord alone was responsible for Israel’s victories. He makes it clear, “the LORD your God is He who has fought for you.”
Verse 4 “See, I have divided to you by lot, these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea westward. And the LORD your God will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God promised you.”
God is faithful to do His part – but in every work of God there are two parts… There’s God’s part and man’s part. The question for Israel is not will God be faithful, but will Israel be obedient.
Verse 6 “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, (don’t even speak of them) nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. For the LORD has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day.
One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you.” “Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God. Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations – these that remain among you – and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you.”
Separation from the world meant power with God. And the opposite is true, go to bed with the world and you forfeit God’s blessing. How can you expect God to drive out the enemy with whom you’ve snuggled up to? You can’t repent of the thing you’re trying to nurture. It’s a contradiction. Joshua is concerned about the Canaanites who’ve been allowed to remain in the land. He knows it’s a lot easier for bad people to rub off on good people, than it is for good people to rub off on bad people. Sin is a communicable disease. Righteousness is not. Righteousness takes initiative. Sin is contagious. Parents, need to remember this when your kids start to select their friends.
Joshua can foresee the day when toleration will become socialization – and socialization will become assimilation. The Hebrews will inter-marry the pagans around them, and be drawn into their idolatry. Joshua warns Israel that the little pockets of paganism they’ve allowed to remain will ultimately be their downfall. Guys, we too have to be on guard against the danger of assimilation. As the old saying goes, “We are in the world, but not of the world.” Too much exposure to godless philosophies and secular values will draw us into its web. We’re all like Noah’s Ark. God designed the Ark to float in the water.
The Ark in the water was no problem. But if the Ark had started taking on water – if water had gotten into the Ark – it would be a different story. And the same is true with us… Christians are designed to overcome this world and be a witness. A Christian in the world is no problem. The danger is when the world gets into the Christian. This is why a certain amount of separation is necessary to live a godly life. God wants us to be holy – a word that means separate. He expects us to reserve our mind and heart for godly influences and healthy preoccupations. Temptation is like flypaper – once you land, it’s hard to leave.
Alan Redpath puts it this way, “How often we see that the temptation we have pampered and encouraged and indulged in has become a scourge and a thorn in our side. The compromising Christian is not a happy man. Let the enemy remain in a Christian life, let him have one foothold, and he soon becomes a scourge.” How often has a thing that brought initial pleasure ended up being a thorn? Joshua warns Israel not to marry pagans
The writer of the book of proverbs says
Proverbs 6:27 ” Can a man bring fire to his bosom and not be burned”
That man of course was King Soloman and we know his story.
Don’t play with fire or you will get burned!!!
Amen
Victor Tafoya
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