When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations – the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hiites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you – and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.
Deuteronomy 7:1-2
God promised the Israelites that He would drive out seven nations larger than them so that they could possess the Promised Land. He told them that they must destroy the nations completely – no compromises. The “ite” nations listed in the passage above would bring destruction on the nation of Israel if they were to mingle with them. These were pagan nations and God was warning His people not to have mercy on them but to obliterate them.
That sounds harsh, but God knew that if they did not obey, the idolatry of the nations they defeated would creep into their lives.
God has delivered us from those things in us which are opposed to Him. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, He has delivered us from sin and brought us into the Promised Land of eternal life. He has told us to rid ourselves of every evil thing: Put to death therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5) God is calling us to rid ourselves of the “ites” in our life – no compromises. He desires that we destroy them and have no mercy on the things in our life that separate us from Him.
What “ites” have you made treaty with? God says that we are to show them no mercy. God has given you the land to possess, but you must dispossess those things in the land that will cause you to compromise. He told the Israelites: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. (v.5) This passage sounds radical! But He desires that nothing stand in the way of our relationship with Him.
Heavenly Father, As I enter the Promised Land, help me to destroy those things in my life that I still cling to. Forgive me where I have compromised wanting some of You in my life and other things as well. I commit this day to rid myself of anything that stands in the way of my life in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen
