When one reads the book of Joshua, immediately one questions the LORD's fairness in commanding Israel to obliterate the nations dwelling in the land He had promised to give them. As we read through the narrative, we often formulate pictures in our mind of a serene, innocent people living their daily lives, a people who would, given the chance, accept not only the Israelites, but also their God as well.
However, Joshua here bursts our bubble, reminding us that those who were living in the land before Israel's conquest of it, are not naturally good (see esp. Deut. 9:4-5). No. They are pagan idolaters who unashamedly display all sorts of abominable practices: practices like child sacrifice, wanton sexual immorality, drunkenness, and the like.
In his excellent book, "The God I don't Understand", OT scholar C.J.H. Wright gives us a couple of helpful frameworks in interpreting the LORD's command for Israel to "completely devote to destruction" (my translation of kherem) the inhabitants of Canaan:
- Israel was God's vessel of justice to execute judgment upon the sins of the Canaanites.
- The Conquest is to be read in light of God's promise to fully save His people.
Why the ruthless conquest? Because the LORD knows how prone our hearts are to love what is evil and hate what is good. He loved His people so much that He commanded that all potential stumbling blocks be devoted to destruction. They were to deal ruthlessly with the things that could potentially bring about their downfall.
When we read the next book in the Bible, we see what happens to the nation who co-inhabits the land with pagans: they inevitably fall into perpetual idolatry, with God's subsequent promised judgment. God judges all idolatry, whether it is the wicked Canaanite's, or the wicked Israelite's. So we must interpret God's ruthless treatment of sin in light of God's ruthless love of people.
Earlier in the book of Joshua, we are shown why he so passionately pleads with the people to be careful of their conduct in the land. Despite God's command to completely devote the land to destruction, we see compromise. Though veiled as good-will, it is nothing less than apathetic compromise to God's command.
"The men of Judah were unable to conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day" (Josh. 15:63, NET).
"However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day" (16:10).
"Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out" (17:13).
"But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites haves lived with the people of Benjamin to this day" (Judges 1:21).
"Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants...for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in the land. When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely" (1:27-28).
"And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived among them" (1:29).
"Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants...so the Canaanites lived among them" (1:30).
"Asher did not drive out the inhabitants...so the Asherites lived among the Canannites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out" (1:32).
"Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants...so they lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land" (1:33).
Rather than breaking down the pagan altars of those who dwelt in the land (2:2), Israel befriended the nations and adopted their pagan practices into their 'religion' (eerily reminiscent of what North American 'evangelicalism' has done & continues to do [i.e. sleep with world]). Anyone who has read the book of Judges knows too well that Israel lived for the most part a pitiful existence as God's chosen people: an existence characterized by bondage, defeat, depression, and disillusionment. Unfortunately, this is the same pathetic existence that many Christians exhibit, as they believe that they can some how enjoy God's blessing, despite the fact that their life is characterized by compromise & apathy.
Basically, the little leaven that remained eventually leavened the lump. My paraphrase: even a little bit of sin is dangerous. We must ruthlessly expunge ALL traces of it, lest we fall into the same snare as the Israelites.
So why do we as Christians think we can play with sin and not get burned? Paul's warning to the proud Corinthians is extremely pertinent to us:
"Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee idolatry" (1 Cor. 10:11-13).
As I preached this past Sunday on Proverbs 4:23, one of the best ways to guard our hearts with all vigilance is to be ruthless with sin. To quote John Owens, "be killing sin, or sin will be killing you."
Christian, are you toying around with the Canaanites in your heart? Are you like Israel, in that you think you can handle the pagan influences you are immersed in and keep them in check? With Paul, I would urge you to take heed lest you fall with the Israelites of old. How long will you go on justifying your worldliness by calling all those who call you out of Babylon legalists? When will you finally heed the reoccurring tolling of the bell that permeates & resonates throughout the Scriptures? I pray it will not take God's judgment to wake you up.
May we, by sovereign grace, follow Caleb's example. Not surprisingly, he is listed first in "taking" his inheritance by force (i.e. true faith). He believed the promise, and so was ruthless in pursuing it. In the new covenant, God has promised that if by the Spirit we [i.e. believers] put to death (KJV = "mortify") the deeds of the flesh, we will [truly] live" (Rom. 8:13).
Oh that the Spirit would open our eyes to see the great love of God in commanding us to deal ruthlessly with our sin! He does not delight in our downfall. He loves us and wants us to live the abundant life Christ died to give us.
Will we take the promise of God & ruthlessly apply it by faith? May God give us the grace to, for the purity of His church, and thus the glory of His name.
In Christ, in Whom all things are possible,
Pastor Ryan
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