The Marriage Expedition - Captives to ConquerorsCampione

Marriage in Canaan - Captives to Conquerors

Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and make marriages with them, and go into them and they to you, 13 know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you. Joshua 23:11-13

Israel in Canaan: God through many signs and wonders brought Israel out of Egypt to Canaan. He brought them out by dividing the Red Sea. Then under the leadership of Joshua God helped them to enter the Promised Land - Canaan by dividing the river Jordan. They had to conquer Canaan because people who don’t belong there were living there. They conquered through God-given strategies. They were no longer captives they became conquerors.

According to Joshua 23:12, we see that a remnant of various nations was still there. So God’s command was that the children of Israel should neither live among them nor make marriages with them. The consequences of disobedience and compromise were severe.

Marriage in Canaan: Marriage in Canaan is not a bed of roses. There will be spiritual battles to be won. There will be temptations to compromise our beliefs for the sake of the unbelieving friends around us. There will be temptations to intermarry. But the command still holds good. Paul reiterates this in his epistle to the Church at Corinth. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.” 2 Corinthians 6: 14 -16a.

In Ezra 9:2 we read that intermarriage pollutes the godly seed. Let’s take these commands seriously and also pass them on to our children. Many parents leave the choice to their children and go by whatever decision they take. This is not Godly parenting. God wants us to pass on His expectations and commands to the next generation.

Judges 2:10 says: “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” How could such a generation arise? This is because of the fathers and mothers who failed to teach their children. This is a warning for us – if we fail to teach about Jesus to our children we will be raising up a generation that will neither know the Lord nor what is right and what is wrong. They will go by what the world says.

Therefore, Christian marriage is much more than what we think. It is an expedition with Jesus having Him as our Commander-in-Chief. God’s Word is the compass. God the Holy Spirit is our Guide and Counsellor. God has given us spiritual weapons to combat the enemy on our expedition.

Prayer: Dear Father, I thank you for bringing me thus far. I pray that I would follow your Word and be guided by Your Holy Spirit to navigate through my married life. Forgive me for compromising my Christian values to please others. I repent of that sin. Dear Lord, help me to raise a Godly generation that would shine for Jesus and share the love of Jesus with everyone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.