WRONG LOVE - Dag Heward-Mills

READ: Joshua 11:9-23

There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.

Joshua 11:22

Showing compassion to people is a common alternative to obeying God. No one is wiser than God and no one is more compassionate than God.

 There are many people who engage in different acts of compassion and feel that these deeds are a good substitute for obeying God. Instead of doing exactly what God says they find something impressive and compassionate to do. Instead of paying tithes you will find people giving their money to poor people or to the sick.

Joshua showed compassion to the cities of Gaza, Gath and Ashdod. He did not kill all the Philistines there but left them alive in direct disobedience to God’s clear instructions. Many years later, the disobedience bore fruit. These three cities, which were not wiped out by Joshua, produced the bitterest enemies of the children of Israel.

Gath produced Goliath who fought against Israel. (1 Samuel 17:4). Gaza produced the harlot that destroyed Samson. (Judges 16:1). Ashdod was the city which captured the ark of God and put it in the temple of Dagon. “(1 Samuel 5:2).

Make sure you are not kinder than God. Make sure that you are not more compassionate than God Himself. Make sure that you are not more loving than Jesus. There is something wrong with your love and compassion when a sinful person like you is praised as being kinder than God!