Heed the Warning

As the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they were commanded by God to conquer the territory and take control of the land. However, this was no easy feat as the land was inhabited by several heathen pagan tribes who had no intention of giving up their land.

¹ “When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, ² and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. (Deuteronomy 7:1-2)

The seven tribal nations that the Israelites were tasked with defeating were:

1. The Hittites

2. The Girgashites

3. The Amorites

4. The Canaanites

5. The Perizzites

6. The Hivites

7. The Jebusites

These tribes were known for idol worship, immorality, and brutal practices such as human sacrifice. God had warned the Israelites that if they did not deal with these opposing nations, they would be corrupted by their practices and eventually be driven out of the land themselves.

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. (Numbers 33:55)

This warning has practical applications for us today, both spiritually and physically. From a practical application, your spiritual eyes are used to discern the truth from falsehood, and allowing false teachings and beliefs to remain in our lives can be a hindrance to our spiritual growth.

The final verse in the book of Judges says: In those days, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)

This is not talking about the pagan people that surrounded the nation of Israel – this was talking about —God’s people! They were sincerely trying to do right, but they totally missed the mark, and they didn’t even know they were missing it. They thought what they were doing was right!

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. (Psalm 19:8) Do not trust your physical eyes alone – they may lead you astray. We must be vigilant in removing anything that goes against God's word and staying focused on His truth.

Physically, the side or hip area is crucial in running or walking, and any injury or weakness in this area can cause significant hindrances. Similarly, in our lives, we must identify and address any areas of weakness or vulnerability that may hinder our progress. Whether it's a bad habit, a toxic relationship, or a lack of discipline in our daily routines, we must take action to remove these hindrances and stay focused on our goals.

Heed the Warning

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