A response is found in Deuteronomy 12, where Moses is recording God’s instructions for worship. The Lord is about to bring Israel into a new land. They are just about to cross the Jordan, where God is commanding them to take action as they occupy this new territory. The property is being controlled by a people who worship false idols and pagan gods. Moses listens carefully to God’s prior instructions, where He outlines the “blessings and cursing.” If the people obey, they will be in the blessings of God; if they disobey Israel will fall outside of the Lord’s hand.

There is a distinctive choice between obedience and sacrifice. We can choose to obey God on his terms, even when we don’t think it makes sense. Obedience involves trust and faith. This was the attitude that God desired for Moses and the people. This opportunity involved two other things: change and growth. Change takes courage and growth takes nurturing.

The Lord said to Moses:
Det. 12:2
Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains and on the hills and under every spreading tree where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods.

12:3Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places.

When God brings us to a new place in our growth, he does not desire for us to remain in the old (2Cor. 5:17). He does not want us to even worship in the way “things were,” but rather, He wants us to focus on “what is,” and who He is. When we cling on to the former things, we cannot embrace the newness that God desires to give us. He is a God of blessing not defeat. His nature is to give not take. His character is to love not refuse.

The Lord did not want any reminders of the old ways and disobedience in worship, nor did he want the Israelites to fall into the temptation of worshiping other gods. The people had to destroy the former things so they may not be reminded nor tempted to evil, but they were to inherit the full blessings of God.

There are no two ways about it. God calls us to grow and be formed into the image of Christ (Eph. 2:10). We cannot move forward while looking back or holding onto the past. You are a new creation in Christ, the old is gone the new has come. Now, go in the direction of His voice.

What land or blessing has God called for you today? What are the old sacred “things” that God is tugging at you to destroy in order to obey Him? May our worship be pure and pleasing to Him through the act of obedience.

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;” - Ps. 66:18