Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
The parts of the Bible that seem to involve God commanding the Israelites to exterminate their enemies are often difficult for us. They require us to be thoughtful about how we read them, and Christians have not always been thoughtful at all: 'holy war', in which Christians have appealed to texts like this to justify slaughtering their enemies wholesale, has too often been a stain on our history.
When we think more deeply, though, we might want to recognise that inspired Scripture springs from real historical situations and is written by human hands. We need to learn to discern the enduring message God is speaking through these difficult stories. In this case, it has to do with the Israelites' uniqueness: they were different from the surrounding nations, not because they were stronger (verse 7) but simply because God had chosen them (verse 6). They were to maintain that uniqueness by separating themselves from everything that would compromise it, and particularly the worship of other gods – hence the prohibition on intermarriage (verses 3–4).
So there are two lessons for Christian believers today, who are Abraham's 'heirs according to promise' (Galatians 3.29, ESV). First, we too are to be distinctly Christian, following Christ alone. But second, we too have been called not because of anything we've done to deserve it, but because of God's grace.
God, thank you for calling me just as I am. Help me never to forget whose I am, and let me always live in the light of your grace to me.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society’s Editor
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