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We completely destroyed them (Deuteronomy 3:6).

There are parts of the Bible we would rather ignore. In fact, many of us would feel better if they just were not there. But there they are. Today\u2019s text is one of them.

It comes in the context of Israel entering the Promised Land and conquering its current inhabitants. Our current context of serious reflection on the atrocities the European conquerors committed in North America makes us want to run away from this biblical history.

There is no chance that we can deal with all the issues raised by Israel\u2019s conquest of Canaan in a short devotional. Yet, since we are meditating on the book of Deuteronomy, we would be negligent to ignore this. Let me offer some comments that may be of value for us.

First, there is little evidence that Israel literally did what the NIV states. In its footnote the editors offer this explanation, \u201cThe Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them\u201d. It appears to be an idea somewhat common in that time and place. Many wars were understood to be religious, in the sense that the winners served a stronger god who now had more territory. The old religions were terminated. That appears to be the background in our text. The concern was that Israel not add to her worship of God things that came from other religions; that she would only worship God in the manner he prescribed in the law.

Second, whether we like it or not, the conquest was a form of judgement on the nations who lived in Canaan. Later Moses will tell Israel, \u201cIt is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob\u201d (9:5).

Here, as is common in scripture, God\u2019s judgement on others is not intended for our glee or religious pride. Rather, it calls us to self-examination. Our status with God is a gift of his grace as was the land of Promise. We too stand under judgement, if it were not for the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Are we living in thanksgiving and obedient response to that grace? Could it be that we are taking it for granted?

This brings us to our third point, which builds on the first. The \u2018destruction\u2019 mentioned in our text appears to be not primarily about destroying people and property but creating communities that worship the Lord only. The practice destroyed all religious artifacts which were dedicated to a different god. For Israel, it was about fulfilling the first two commandments which concern worshipping only the Lord God and worshipping him properly (cf. Ex. 20:3-5a).

Thus, our text invites us to examine our own hearts and our worshipping practices. Do we honour God with the way that we worship him or does our worship reflect our own selfishness? Are we willing to tackle the work of idol destruction in our own lives? This is difficult work and time consuming. Are we willing to take the time to examine our loves? What do we love besides God? What is distracting us from worshipping God alone? Are we willing to set such things aside, to completely destroy them so that we can love God with undivided heart?