Deuteronomy 7

“The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves ...” (v25). The Israelites were about to walk into a populated land with idols, resources and customs. God’s amazing promises to them – to be with them, to defeat their enemies, to multiply them, to make their families flourish – were only valid when the Israelites kept themselves separate. Adopting their neighbors’ idols and using their silver and gold would lead to disaster.

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God” (v6). Like Israel, our greatest threat is never external enemies, but our own temptations. As God’s people in Christ, we are called to holiness.