Numbers 33:55
Reading the words of this verse you cannot fail to notice the warnings given to the people of God should they fail to drive out the inhabitants of the land. It provides us with a striking reminder of the damage that can be done if we tolerate sin in our lives.
Most of ch 55 is taken up with a succint record of the places visited from Rameses to Jordan. However v 51-56 contains the instructions for entering the promised land. These were communicated to the people via Moses as always.
In summary they were to drive out the inhabitants, destroy all the pagan paraphernalia and take possession of the land, fairly and squarely. So far as removing traces of their pagan worship there were three things involved: pictures, molten images and high places. The gods of the land were gods that you could see, could handle and could worship wherever it took your fancy. This was a very convenient and likeable way to satisfy any conscience you had towards a deity but it was totally at odds with the revelation of The True God. He could not be seen, could not handled and could not be worshipped anywhere and anyhow.
