God spoke to Moses about Israel’s plans once they entered the Promised Land; drive out those who currently inhabit the land. They were sinful people and God had chosen to displace them with the people of covenant. In 33:52 God also specifies that Israel should destroy every last visible presence of those former inhabitants; their carved stones, metal idols, and local places of idolatry. Because Israel was not to worship the way those sinful people worship. God has the same plans for the lives of Christians. It is not a command to kill people and destroy idol worship in those who surround us, but to get rid of the old forms of worship that we had in our lives. I see the invasion of God’s holy army into Canaan as a parable of what he wants to do inside the life of every Christian. Those sacred stones around which we have build our life; destroyed. Those images that defined who we were; removed from sight. Those personal expressions of worship that are not found in scripture; demolished. Even as I grow in Christ I become confronted with vestiges of my life before I surrendered to Christ. As I uncover them I ask, “What do I do with these, Lord?” He makes the answer clear: Destroy, remove, demolish. Even though that process can hurt and leave ugly scars that’s what he wants me to do. Because there is only room for one God in the universe and in my life.
It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart
No comments:
Post a Comment