When we read the Bible, we can ask ourselves, is this a promise? A warning? What are the principles? Is this a command to follow? A revelation of God’s character? What is God saying through the passage? The information God gives is important as it is His word on how to live. The Creator knows best how we should live.
Nearing the end of his life, Joshua addressed the nation, andhe gave very important instructions about the land they had entered. The people that were there had worshipped idols and every false and wicked thing. The Israelites were to worship God and only Him. They were told specifically to not marry the people that remained (who were to be killed in the first place) because they would lead them to worship idols that were the same gods that they were told not to worship. (worship: The reverent love and devotion accorded to deity, an idol, or a sacred object. The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.)
Two of the Ten Commandments were about this very thing:
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,”
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23 You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.
Always take note when God says something several times! It is important! God knew that this would be a snare and trap for His people.
