The Ban

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 6:21-7:6         1/31/2018

Moses described the need to destroy the nations who occupied the Promised Land. He noted that the nations Israel would displace were more numerous and powerful than they.

He especially forbid intermarriage with the people living in Canaan. He feared that any survivors from the Israelite invasion would lead the people to worship false gods. This would undermine the entire Authentic Community.

Finally, Moses reminded the Israelites that they were special. God had chosen them from amongst all the people on earth. This special relationship bore a certain responsibility.

Abraham and Isaac

Recognizing his son’s need for a bride, Abraham tasked his servant to return to Haran. This was the city of Abraham’s father. The servant’s job was to find a bride for Isaac from amongst his own family. Abraham insisted on two things:

1. The bride must not come from Canaan
2. Isaac must not return to his family in Haran.

The woman would have to be brought back to Isaac. This would preclude the risk that Isaac would be led to worship the gods of the Canaanites. Preventing Isaac from visiting Haran would protect him from the allure of family stability away from the land that God had promised Abraham.

Moses knew the story well. It served as a microcosm of the danger he faced. And it gave a foreshadow of  the solution.

Love for God and Neighbor

So what does it mean for me? How do I protect my identity in Christ and avoid being seduced by the idols of my age?

It’s the combination. The command I received wasn’t only to love my neighbor as myself. Elsewise, I’d become an enabler. I would do for my neighbor what I would want for myself – which sounds great except most of my natural desires are entirely evil.

However, in loving God first – in making relationship with God my first priority – things are different. Imagine that my greatest desire is to know and love God. Imagine that this is what I recognize as best in life. If that’s what I valued, then what I would want for others would be that they could know and love God. The two loves would become aligned. The love I show to my neighbor takes its rightful and appropriate place.

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matt 19:21