Numbers 33:55–56 (HCSB)
“But if you don’t drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become thorns in your eyes and in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you will live. And what I had planned to do to them, I will do to you.”
The Israelites did not do what God instructed them to do. They did not completely drive out the inhabitants of the land. They grew tired of fighting. They wanted peace. They wanted to settle down—and they did before they finished the job.
What God promised is exactly what happened. The people they allowed to remain in the land became “thorns” in their eyes all the years they were in the land—even to this very day! The Arabs who dwell in Gaza are completely dependent on the Jews for their sustenance. The Gaza Strip is a welfare state. They are also the means by which Hamas comes in and attacks Israel. “Thorns” in their eyes and sides.
There are things that, if we allow them to remain in our lives, will become thorns in our lives as well. Those habits we carried over from the old life still tempt us. Those friendships we held on to continued to drag us down. There must be a clean break. All the inhabitants (sins) of the old life must be driven out of our lives. The Holy Spirit will go with us and fight for us. He is on our side to help us. With His help all the previous occupants can be driven from our land and we can be free and clean to live for Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment