Today I read in Numbers 33. In this passage, God is informing Israel to remove all the inhabitants of the land. He tells them if they do not, then they will become "pricks in you eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land where you dwell.
Canaan is a picture of the victorious Christian life. So the inhabitants of Canaan are pictures of hindrances to our Christian life. Things in the world which will keep us from enjoying the plan God has for us. We must remove anything which hinder our total dedication to God.
If we do not heed the words which God delivered unto Israel, the world will be a hindrance to our victory. The deeds of the flesh which we do not mortify, will affect our Christian walk. If we do not extricate them completely, they will become pricks (irritations) to our eyes. They will keep us from seeing all that God is doing; all He has done for us. Also, as thorns in our sides they will keep us from accomplishing all that God has designed for us.
You know what it is like to live with pain. You know how when you are in pain, the pain keeps you from focusing on what is important. So the works of the flesh which we do not remove from our lives will hinder our accomplishment of what God has desired for us.
Today, think about those things in your life which keep your eyes from seeing God at work in you. Think of those things which capture your focus, keeping you from focusin on God's work. Maybe it's time we remove those things just as Israel was to remove the inhabitants of the land of Canaan.
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