S) " 10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers."
Joshua 16:10 (NASB)
O) Each tribe of Israel was given an inheritance, a district if you will, of the Promised Land. After conquering the majority of the kingdom cities in the Land, it was then left to the individual tribes to clear out all the remaining inhabitants of their portions, in order to accomplish the will of God, to execute judgment on the Canaanites. This conquest God has scripted for them was as much about taking this land from wicked inhabitants, as it was about giving the Promised Land to the Israelites. In fact, it was ultimately the very same wickedness that led to the Israelites themselves being spewed from that same Land. In great part, one of the things that led to the Israelites long-term struggle, was their failure to recognize the pitfall of keeping alive the wicked, previous tenants. They made the mistake of assuming that putting the Canaanites under their thumb, so to speak, was going to safeguard them against falling into the same wicked behaviors of those same Canaanites.
A) Context is everything. It is once again prudent to mention that the commands to conquer these lands and destroy these peoples were specifically given to those Israelites, under those circumstances. It is very clear in the New Testament, that physical violence will not advance the kingdom of God (See Ephesians 6, for example). What is very relatable here, is that leaving an area of temptation live, when that area of temptation should be killed, is simply foolish. If something tempts me to sin, it would be foolish to allow that temptation to remain in place. That was the real problem facing the Israelites. This is the analogy that Jesus was using in Matthew 18:8-9. There is inherent danger in allowing temptations to linger. Whether from laziness, selfishness, or plain foolishness, I have fallen prey to lingering temptations. I cannot abide resident temptation.
P) Father, I have been a fool. You call me to holiness, because You know my weakness. You call me to holiness, to be sanctified, because You know that I am prone to sin. I need to be reminded that Your call to purity is for my own good. I thrive in life, as You define my limits. When You set my boundaries, I am protected from myself. When I allow temptations to lurk, when I am lax in my vigil, I am inviting disaster. Purify the desires of my heart, Lord. Continue to change me from the inside out, from my heart. Help me to snuff out any temptation that smolders within me. Remind me that I will be burned by playing with that fire. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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