The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 16:10,
"They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor."
In Deuteronomy 7:1-2 we read, "When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy." Destroy them totally... pretty clear, isn't it?
Yet, we see in Joshua 16:10 that Ephraim chose to exploit an opportunity and use the Canaanites as slave labor. As we read of Israel's history we find that though they may have experienced some short-term benefit, their disobedience to God cost them severely.
It brings to mind the opportunists today that exploit what God has provided for their own personal interests rather than obey him in all things. TV evangelists that plunder would-be people of God to amass personal fortunes, pastors who exploit their position of trust among an unsuspecting congregation by engaging in adultery with women in their flock, leaders of church-connected charitable organizations that lay claim to the heartfelt desire of God's people to help others less fortunate - who draw massive salaries, etc.
"They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor."
In Deuteronomy 7:1-2 we read, "When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy." Destroy them totally... pretty clear, isn't it?
Yet, we see in Joshua 16:10 that Ephraim chose to exploit an opportunity and use the Canaanites as slave labor. As we read of Israel's history we find that though they may have experienced some short-term benefit, their disobedience to God cost them severely.
It brings to mind the opportunists today that exploit what God has provided for their own personal interests rather than obey him in all things. TV evangelists that plunder would-be people of God to amass personal fortunes, pastors who exploit their position of trust among an unsuspecting congregation by engaging in adultery with women in their flock, leaders of church-connected charitable organizations that lay claim to the heartfelt desire of God's people to help others less fortunate - who draw massive salaries, etc.
God has provided for the church, as he did Israel, wonderful blessings to be used according to his purposes. Woe to those who exploit those things in disobeying him.
I suspect many who do these things are really not that convinced that judgment day is coming. But... it is!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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