Command 27 : Beware of Leaven | Day 189

Trace Leaven to High Places!

One of the great mysteries in the history of Israel is their repeated rejection of the mighty God Who chose them, blessed them, delivered them from Egypt, gave them daily food in the wilderness, and brought them into the Promised Land.

When the children of Israel turned their backs on God, as a loving Father He warned them through His prophets and chastened them with famines, plagues, and invading armies. When the pain of their discipline became unbearable, they cried out to the Lord and returned to Him, but soon after He delivered them, they once again ran after other gods instead of delighting in the love and leadership of the one true God.

No doubt when Israel repented of their sin, they had good intentions of following God thereafter, but they failed to obey this "small" instruction: “Ye shall utterly destroy all the [high] places wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods” (Deuteronomy 12:2). God's explicit instruction to destroy high places was given because He knew that if they remained, it would be only a matter of time before Israel would be drawn away by them into idolatry.

The leading factor in the repeated apostasy of Israel was "the little leaven" of high places that they allowed.

High places represented the power, leadership, and provision of heathen gods, but the Lord wanted the children of Israel to look to Him for these things. Today, many people put their confidence in their jobs, education, possessions, or other things rather than looking to God to meet their needs and give them fulfillment.

To this God says: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

It is important to thoroughly remove high places so that we make no “provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:14). When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin in a particular area, we need to thoroughly cleanse our lives of it and everything associated with it. If we allow even a tiny part to remain in our lives, it will not be long until we are overcome by its temptation and yield to it.

Wholeheartedly loving the Lord involves "burning bridges" to sin, making no provision for the flesh, and forsaking all alternatives to following the Lord.

Hypocrisy will never be overcome if we allow anything that competes with our love for and dependence upon the Lord to remain in our lives. In your journal this week, it would be wise to list any high places that God is asking you to remove from your life. Also, list any signs of hypocrisy that your family has brought to your attention and record the steps you have taken or will take in order to eliminate these corrupting influences.