What would Christians’ lives be like, if we devoted ourselves to living out the Word of God? In this devotion, we would remove anything in our lives that did not match up with the Word of God. For instance Gal 5:16 – 25 provides a comparison of behavior for those who walk by the Spirit versus the flesh. The flesh embodies sin and does not confirm to those belonging to Christ. In Christ, those passions and desires of the flesh have been crucified. In the Old Testament, God calls the Israelites to bring forth passions and desires embedded in objects including people to be destroyed in him.
Joshua 6: 17 – 20 identifies the Israelites destroying the city of Jericho and rescuing Rahab, the harlot. The Israelites were called to destroy the city and to not take any of the items. In describing the request by God, the term accursed is used. The verb, accursed occurs in the book of Joshua in describing most of the Israelites war campaigns against other nations. The term means “to put under a ban”, “to devote to destruction”, and “to devote to God, to consecrate”. Therefore, the Israelites’ devote for destruction the city of Jericho. In completing this act, they obey God and do God’s work instead of following the practices of the city. By not obeying and completing his work, the Israelites are considered accursed before God.
The ban for utterly destroying or utter destruction also applies to people. The utter destruction for objects and persons prohibit corruption or contamination to the religious life of Israel. This method of prohibiting corruption or contamination also possesses duality before God. The verb, accursed always suggests separating or devoting to God. Therefore any objects or persons devoted to God for destruction occur to ensure with all certainty that the Israelites avoid contamination. Josh 6:17-18 demonstrates this understanding. In verse 17, Jericho awaits destruction by the Israelites. The city exemplifies absolutely and irrevocably consecration that could not be redeemed and therefore possessed a sentence for utter destruction. Joshua informs the Israelites that they will reap destruction, if they take possession of the objects devoted to God as indicated by the ban of utter destruction. In this context, the Israelites would in fact be resisting God’s work and thereby considered accursed before him. In addition, the complete destruction or utterly destroying the city indicates the Israelites removing any objects that cause contamination to their religious life before God. These instructions may appear strict; however, God’s requests ensure that the Israelites live lives without contamination.
The original question remains, what would your life be like if it you completely devoted yourself to the Word of God and removed any items that did not match. Josh 6 reveals the Israelites call to devote objects and persons to God for destruction to ensure their religious life without contamination. However, not confirming or obeying the instruction meant their own destruction. Christians must make the same choice. Christians must decide what accursed items in their lives require extermination to rid contamination. The outcome of not devoting these items to God produces trouble and corruption in their lives. Therefore, God understands this outcome and attempts to circumvent it by requesting his people to consecrate those items to him. He requests that we bring these items to him. God is not afraid of our sin and can handle the worse that is in us. However, will we turn these items over to him; so that they can be destroyed and no longer reign in our lives?
