Don't Go Back!

Scripture(s): Joshua 23:12-13

"For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.

Commentary:
III. He gives them fair warning what would be the fatal consequences of apostasy (v. 12, 13, 15, 16): "If you go back, know for a certainty it will be your ruin.’’ Observe,

1. How he describes the apostasy which he warns them against. The steps of it would be (v. 12) growing intimate with idolaters, who would craftily wheedle them, and insinuate themselves into their acquaintance, now that they had become lords of the country, to serve their own ends. The next step would be intermarrying with them, drawn to it by their artifices, who would be glad to bestow their children upon these wealthy Israelites. And the consequence of that would be (v. 16) serving other gods (which were pretended to be the ancient deities of the country) and bowing down to them. Thus the way of sin is down-hill, and those who have fellowship with sinners cannot avoid having fellowship with sin. This he represents, (1.) As a base and shameful desertion; "it is going back from what you have so well begun,’’ v. 12. (2.) As a most perfidious breach of promise (v. 16): "It is a transgression of the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and which you yourselves set your hand to.’’ Other sins were transgressions of the law God commanded them, but this was a transgression of the covenant he commanded them, and amounted to a breach of the relation between God and them and a forfeiture of all the benefits of the covenant (Henry, 1996).

2. How he describes the destruction which he warns them of. He tells them, (1.) That these remainders of the Canaanites, if they should harbour them, and indulge them, and join in affinity with them, would be snares and traps to them, both to draw them to sin (not only to idolatry, but to all immoralities, which would be the ruin, not only of their virtue, but of their wisdom and sense, their spirit and honour), and also to draw them into foolish bargains, unprofitable projects, and all manner of inconveniences; and having thus by underhand practices decoyed them into one mischief or other, so as to gain advantages against them, they would then act more openly, and be scourges in their sides and thorns in their eyes, would perhaps kill or drive away their cattle, burn or steal their corn, alarm or plunder their houses, and would be all ways possible be vexatious to them; for, whatever pretences of friendship they might make, a Canaanite, unless proselyted to the faith and worship of the true God, would in every age hate the very name and sight of an Israelite (Henry, 1996).

See how the punishment would be made to answer the sin, nay, how the sin itself would be the punishment. (2.) That the anger of the Lord would be kindled against them. Their making leagues with the Canaanites would not only give those idolaters the opportunity of doing them a mischief, and be the fostering of snakes in their bosoms, but it would likewise provoke God to become their enemy, and would kindle the fire of his displeasure against them. (3.) That all the threatenings of the word would be fulfilled, as the promise had been, for the God of eternal truth is faithful to both (Henry, 1996).

Reflection:
We are encouraged to cling to the Lord our God (Joshua 23:8) and not to cling to the gods of other nations that do not worship the Lord our God; but who worship idols, in which they themselves have made with their own hands. Idols can also be individuals in our lives, that we have set on a pedestal; as if they are our everything. God strictly warns against worshipping anyone, or anything above him. We are never to go back to ungodly relationships in which God himself has clearly stated, is not his perfect will. God is a jealous God, and one of his names if Jealous (Exodus 34:14). Therefore, we must be mindful to cling to the Lord our God with our entire being, and not be distracted by anyone, or anything; that would try to make us take our mind off of the one that saved our souls from eternal separation from Him.

Strong's Concordance Definition: (Joshua 23:12)

If you ever go back: 7725
1) to return, turn back
a) (Qal)
1) to turn back, return
a) to turn back
b) to return, come or go back
c) to return unto, go back, come back
d) of dying
e) of human relations (fig)
f) of spiritual relations (fig)
1) to turn back (from God), apostatise
2) to turn away (of God)
3) to turn back (to God), repent
4) turn back (from evil)
g) of inanimate things
h) in repetition
b) (Polel)
1) to bring back
2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)
3) to lead away (enticingly)
4) to show turning, apostatise
c) (Pual) restored (participle)
d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back
1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment
2) to bring back, refresh, restore
3) to bring back, report to, answer
4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)
5) to turn back or backward, repel, defeat, repulse, hinder, reject, refuse
6) to turn away (face), turn toward
7) to turn against
8) to bring back to mind
9) to show a turning away
10) to reverse, revoke
e) (Hophal) to be returned, be restored, be brought back
f) (Pulal) brought back


and cling to : 1692
1) to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch

a) (Qal)
1) to cling, cleave to
2) to stay with
b) (Pual) to be joined together
c) (Hiphil)
1) to cause to cleave to
2) to pursue closely
3) to overtake
d) (Hophal) to be made to cleave

these nations: 1471
1) nation, people

a) nation, people
1) usually of non-Hebrew people
2) of descendants of Abraham
3) of Israel
b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)

these which remain: 7604
1) to remain, be left over, be left behind

a) (Qal) to remain
b) (Niphal)
1) to be left over, be left alive, survive
a) remainder, remnant (participle)
2) to be left behind
c) (Hiphil)
1) to leave over, spare
2) to leave or keep over
3) to have left
4) to leave (as a gift)
and intermarry with them: 2859
1) to become a son-in-law, make oneself a daughter's husband

a) (Qal) wife's father, wife's mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law (participle)
b) (Hithpael) to make oneself a daughter's husband

Associate with them, and they with you: 935
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

a) (Qal)
1) to enter, come in
2) to come
a) to come with
b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
c) to come to pass
3) to attain to
4) to be enumerated
5) to go
b) (Hiphil)
1) to lead in
2) to carry in
3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
4) to bring to pass
c) (Hophal)
1) to be brought, brought in
2) to be introduced, be put

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Joshua 23 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 26 Mar 2010.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jos&c=23&t=NASB

Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Joshua 23." . Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2010. 26 Mar 2010.
http:// www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?
AuthorID=4&contentID=842&commInfo=5&topic=Joshua&ar=Jos_23_12

Higgins, S. (2010). Don't Go Back. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, Http://www.higginspublishing.com