Barbs and Thorns

Moses warned the people about failing to drive out the inhabitants of the Promised land. He was not going into the land with them, so he wanted to stress the danger of living with the pagan people. They would be barbs in their eyes and thorns in their sides. (Numbers 33:55,56) They would lead them into their sinful practices, so that God would have to destroy them, just as He was punishing the Canaanites. We all need to realize this fact, and take note of it for our lives.

None of us are perfect. However, believers are forgiven of our sins by Jesus when we trust Him as our Lord and Savior. Then, we are to be like Him, being holy as He is holy. If we allow the pagan practices around us to tempt us to go back to our former sins, we are just as guilty of sin as the unbelievers. God hates sin, and He has to punish it, so we receive His anger against our sins. Therefore, we feel the effects of the barbs and thorns. However, we are able to stay away from those things by the power of the Spirit and enjoy God's favor instead.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Numbers 34-36 and Deuteronomy 1.

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