Joshua Chp 23
Once again Joshua warns the Israelites to be very careful. Here he uses the words "be careful" and once again "be very careful" to underscore the importance of always being on guard. Then he goes on to explain HOW to be careful. One of the ways where we can be careful is through the relationships we keep. Joshua explains it this way:
7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them.
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12 “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, 13 then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the LORD your God has given you.
Joshua warns of us association which the dictionary defines here as "to join as a partner, friend, or companion". In the New Testament, Paul warns Timothy also of this:
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.(2 Tim 3:1-5)
While there may be some variance in terms of whom we should avoid based on Joshua's warning vs Paul's, the point is nonetheless that we need to be careful for how other people separate us from God. There is only ONE truth and ONE way.
My Prayer: Lord, your truth has set me free and I am thankful for you have taken control of my life and helped me in so many ways. Forgive me for my neglect or your will and for my desires to be IN the world vs in YOU. Help me love you more every day and with all of my heart and to follow you with all of my heart.
