Don’t Follow Shinny Things - Deuteronomy 7-9

Deuteronomy 7:25-26 (ESV)

The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction.

In this chapter of Moses’ final words, he is giving the nation God’s word on the success they are going to have as they conquer the current people in the promise land.  In the above passage we read the warning about what the people are to do as they conquer the land and come across their gods (idols).   The temptation to see a gold image and want to take it for oneself would be a very difficult temptation to avoid.  These are people who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.  They were not used to anything like that.  Yes, Aaron made them a golden calf when Moses was too long in the mountain getting the Ten Commandments.   But the did not work out well for them either.   This command to burn the idols and destroy them was another reminder that the world’s goods are not for the people of God.    Yet, there is a prime example of this right as these people come into the promise land.  Note what we read about a man named Achan:

Joshua 7:1 (ESV)

But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.

Joshua 7:19-22 (ESV)

Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath.

This is the example of what Moses warned them about.  Achan sinned and his fellow countrymen died that day.   This is the same warning for us.  We are not to be engaged in the world and want their shinny things. We are to be conformed to the image of Christ and desire the things of God. 

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.