Although the Israelites were living in the cities and villages belonging to the kings they had conquered east of the Jordan River, they didn’t seem to have the idea that this was part of their possession. Perhaps they felt like they were living another form of camping- out as they squatted in those cities and villages, awaiting the crossing of the Jordan which would be their entrance into the Promised Land. Although I don’t want to over-spiritualize the experiences of God’s Old Testament people, I don’t want to miss out on this lesson about living in the land of God’s promise. Are we waiting until a certain time in the future, or gaining of a certain amount of ground before we count ourselves living in the place of God’s promises? We need to take hold of His promises now. If we don’t have a right understanding of what promises we have been given, we need to be in God’s word in order to gain an understanding. That’s part of what this year’s read through the Bible is about!
Notice in Moses’ response to them, he spoke about their crossing “over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven His enemies out from before Him.” God didn’t see the Canaanites as Israel’s enemy, but His own. How do you suppose He sees your enemies? Do you suppose that He has as much interest in your defeat of your enemies as He did in the defeat of the Canaanites?
Once again God reiterated His harsh requirements for taking the Promised Land. The principle is that anything of the old inhabitants that remained in the land would be a lure for the Israelites, ultimately corrupting them. The corruption would bear fruit in them, coming between God and them, eventually leading them away from God. That is the nature of sin – it can never be the hidden thing Satan deceives us into thinking it can be. Rather, it grows and takes on new life as it constantly demands feeding, ultimately taking over. Harsh as it may seem, the old inhabitants had to go, which would remove the influence of their lifeways, their philosophies, and their values.