I can remember reading with great difficulty of the wholesale destruction required by God as Israel moved to possess their promised land.
Clear back with Moses, God was very clear:
“When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 30 take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ 31 You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. (Deuteronomy 12:29-31)
Now here, a great many generations later, Israel has morphed their faith into a syncretic amalgam of faith in the one true God, with that of Baal worship. Even the wise Solomon tragically ended his life in a shameful syncretic worship of false gods.
Archaeology has provided us with concrete evidence of the Scriptures testimony of these facts in the Tel Gezer. At Tel Gezer, they have unearthed a "high place" used for sacrifice (pictured above), and have even found the ancient charred remains of sacrificed children.
Here today, I find in my daily ESV Study Bible Devotional, after scores of disobedient kings who "did evil in the sight of the Lord", we find that God will act against his chosen people for their horrific acts, which included child sacrifice.
It is easy for me to be horrified, and completely mystified as to how Israel might go from living amongst the presence of God to this hideous display. However, before I could even finish typing that last sentence, I was quickly reminded of several times in my life that I found myself way out in left field, far away from a relationship with God. Certainly not involved in child sacrifice, but also most certainly following my own selfish desires, which resulted in shameful behaviors as well.
With a 53 year dose of life under my belt, and having now nearly read the whole of God's testimony, I can far better understand the value of these texts. Unfortunately, many of us must learn things the hard way.
I am very grateful that God has not allowed me to stray too far from his side. Further, I am now grateful to understand that God disciplines those whom he calls his own. And even further still, I am most amazed at this thing called grace. I have tasted the unmerited favor of Abba.
Has God ever grabbed you back from a destructive path?