January 4, 2022

Passage Read: Joshua 14-17
Meditation Verses: 17:12-13

Thought

This is a common refrain in these chapters. As the land is divided, it is noted that pockets of Canaanites proved too difficult for the Israelites to drive out, so they lived side by side with the Canaanites, until the Israelites became strong enough to enslave the Canaanites. Instead of driving them out or destroying them, they made them slaves and kept them around. It is hard to obey the Lord's commands when you've got everything you want and even more. When everything is going smoothly, it is easier to compromise with sinful people and sinful ways, than to remove them from our midst.

Application

The church is not called to kill unbelievers, but to evangelize them. If they don't believe, we can live among them, but to be close with them and partner with them and intermarry with them, these are forbidden. Unbelievers still wield influence and appeal to our sinful nature, they are still a stumbling block. I can make friends for the sake of the Gospel, but the Gospel and Christian standards should set me apart from nonbelievers. They should know clearly what I believe and what I long for them.