The Promised Land
Exodus 23:31-33: "And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you."
As the Israelites are breaking from their ties to Egypt, the Lord is teaching them how to live as his holy, set apart people. The Ten Commandments and the following laws are the guidelines on how to do this. In learning about the Lord and his ways, they are to anticipate life in this new land. In the verses above, the Lord continues to paint a picture for where this land is geographically, who is currently dwelling there, and how they will move into the land.
The instructions of the Lord are clear: drive out the inhabitants and do not make any covenants with them or their gods. Since the beginning of creation, mankind has been inclined to compromise God's word. True faithfulness to the Lord does not allow for that compromise. As God's chosen people, the Israelites are called not to compromise and thus be conformed to the people around them but rather to be transformed by the Lord, by his law, and by obedience to that law. That obedience will bring blessings. Disobedience and compromise will surely be a snare to them.
God's words to the Israelites are still true for us today. Paul writes it this way, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2). There is still the temptation to allow the world to shape our faith and our worship; it is still far too easy to compromise God's standards. This kind of compromise will not only rob us of God's good and perfect will for our lives but also become a snare to us.
May we choose God's way; may we allow him to transform us through the daily renewal of our minds. That transformation will allow us to experience God's presence, peace, and guidance in our lives today and will ultimately allow us to enjoy everlasting joy when we see him face to face.
Reflection:
Are you being conformed to the world or transformed by the renewal of your mind?
As the Israelites are breaking from their ties to Egypt, the Lord is teaching them how to live as his holy, set apart people. The Ten Commandments and the following laws are the guidelines on how to do this. In learning about the Lord and his ways, they are to anticipate life in this new land. In the verses above, the Lord continues to paint a picture for where this land is geographically, who is currently dwelling there, and how they will move into the land.
The instructions of the Lord are clear: drive out the inhabitants and do not make any covenants with them or their gods. Since the beginning of creation, mankind has been inclined to compromise God's word. True faithfulness to the Lord does not allow for that compromise. As God's chosen people, the Israelites are called not to compromise and thus be conformed to the people around them but rather to be transformed by the Lord, by his law, and by obedience to that law. That obedience will bring blessings. Disobedience and compromise will surely be a snare to them.
God's words to the Israelites are still true for us today. Paul writes it this way, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2). There is still the temptation to allow the world to shape our faith and our worship; it is still far too easy to compromise God's standards. This kind of compromise will not only rob us of God's good and perfect will for our lives but also become a snare to us.
May we choose God's way; may we allow him to transform us through the daily renewal of our minds. That transformation will allow us to experience God's presence, peace, and guidance in our lives today and will ultimately allow us to enjoy everlasting joy when we see him face to face.
Reflection:
Are you being conformed to the world or transformed by the renewal of your mind?
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