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Day 5: Let Us Sanctify Ourselves and Destroy Every Idol

“Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

Joshua 3:5

Joshua 3; 7:10-13; Exodus 32; Deuteronomy 4:1-24; 6; 18:9-14; 20:16-18; Colossians 3:5-7; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18

The crossing of the Jordan marked a pivotal moment for the people of Israel, symbolizing a transition from the wilderness to the promised land, leaving behind the old sinful ways associated with their past. Joshua recognized the importance of sanctification as they embarked on this new chapter, especially considering the previous generation's failures.

The command to sanctify themselves was not arbitrary; it stemmed from the lessons learned when the older generation of Israelites defiled themselves by creating a golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai, forsaking the Almighty God. They literally demanded a new god they were willing to follow, forgetting the Almighty God who had brought them out of Egypt and delivered them from slavery. In doing so, they dishonored the God of Israel before the other nations, forgetting their covenant with Him (Exodus 32:1-25).

God had chosen them as a people to bring glory to His name, to be set apart for His divine work of salvation. They were His inherence. Similar to us, they were called to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation exclusively devoted to God. God repeatedly told His beloved children to guard their hearts and not forget the only God of gods, the King of kings, the Lord of lords. (Deuteronomy 4:6-9, 15-24; 6:1-10, 12-19; 1 Peter 2:9).

Consecration is not a mere wish nor a request. Consecration is God's requirement, an integral part of the everlasting covenant between Him and His people (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Leviticus 20:7-8, Exodus 31:13-17). Before entering the promised land, the people needed to be consecrated, remembering their covenant with the Lord, trusting in Him alone, and not turning back.

Scholars suggest that the Jordan River was typically crossable throughout the year. However, the Lord commanded the Israelites to traverse the river in early spring, during the first month of the Hebrew calendar, when the waters were overflowing and human efforts alone couldn't manage the turbulent river (Judges 3:28, 8:4; Joshua 4:19). This crossing served as a testament to the faithfulness of God to His covenant, urging the Israelites to remain steadfast in their devotion to their Redeemer and acknowledge Him as the sole God (Joshua 4:22-24). It also testified to all nations that "the hand of the Lord is powerful" (Joshua 4:24). Their enemies, the kings of the Amorites and Canaan, were frightened by the works of the Lord, realizing the powerlessness of their storm god, Baal, in the face of the Almighty Lord of heaven and earth (Joshua 5:1). Choosing to trust in the idols of this world will always lead to defeat!

Despite Joshua's call to consecrate themselves, the people stumbled again, disregarding God's words and commands. After crossing the Jordan, God delivered Jericho into the hands of the Israelites, the first city they needed to possess to claim the land of Canaan as their inheritance. God instructed them to take nothing from the city, surrender everything to Him, and destroy it along with all its inhabitants, except for Rahab and her household (there will be a separate story about that) (Joshua 6:16-26).

God was jealous because He did not want His chosen people to become infected with the abominations of idolatry from foreign nations (Deuteronomy 20:16-18; 18:9-14). However, Achan, one man among the people, sinned by succumbing to the allure of fine garments, gold, and silver (Joshua 7:1, 20-21). As a result, the entire nation faced defeat in the battle for the next city (Joshua 7:4-15).

Today, God also desires nothing in our hearts that belongs to the enemy. He is the complete Lord of our hearts who cares for us and will not tolerate any idols around us. An idol can be anything or anyone that brings more pleasure to us than God. It can be anything or anyone in whom we place our trust and hopes, or to whom we devote our time and thoughts.

For example, an idol can be the love of acquiring material goods or the constant concern for earthly welfare and prosperity (Luke 16:13, Colossians 3:5). Another typical idol is dependence on the opinion of others; when a person seeks recognition and significance, falling under the influence of people, or succumbing to fear, hypocrisy, or the desire for power and influence over others. These are all manifestations of the idol of human glory. What should matter to us is what God thinks of us (1 Thessalonians 2:1-6; 1 Corinthians 4:3-5). Our desires can become idols when they take center stage in our lives, not subject to God's lordship. The desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and worldly pride are all manifestations of human worldly desires (1 John 2:15-16).

The enemy wants us to be independent and distant from our Creator, to have a place in our hearts for him, and to tolerate and compromise with sin. But the Lord wants us to "turn to God from idols and serve the living and true God" as we wait for Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). He wants our hearts to belong to Him alone and to remove all double-mindedness, friendship, and flirtation with this world (James 4:1-5).

Consecration to God is not for a single day or period but for the entire life. Our responsibility is to ruthlessly get rid of everything that belongs to the enemy and lay it before the Lord. We cannot do it on our own. Only by knowing the Lord as Savior can we defeat sin and death.

The land was a blessing to God's people, as their task was to drive out all ungodliness, idolatry, and corruption to build God's temple in this place, where God would be glorified by revealing Himself.

We are also the temple of the living God. Can we, as the temple of the living God, have any relationship with idols? No! God said, "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from them and be separate. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:16-18). Having come to the Father through Jesus Christ, we have already chosen to be victorious in the spiritual battle. By submitting daily to the Loving Creator and Keeper of our hearts, we can rejoice in His presence, serve Him, and bear fruit.

“Dear Children, keep yourselves from Idols.”

1 John 5:21

Reflection Questions:

1. Seek the Lord's guidance in revealing and dismantling the idols in your life, imploring God to intervene on your behalf.

2. God desires transparency from us, urging us not to conceal things as Achan did. If anything in your life is aligned with the enemy, surrender it to the Lord, confessing it to Him and others.

3. Identify the areas of your life still under the enemy's influence. Where have you yet to yield complete lordship to King Jesus? Lay these areas before Him, inviting His sovereign rule over every aspect of your life.

Prayer:

1. For sports ministry leaders and disciple-makers to walk in holiness.
2. For God to continue to consecrate us for His calling.
3. For Eurasia Big Region - may they see multiplication of disciples and teams in the world of sport, play, and fitness.