Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves by all these things. - Leviticus 18:24
The Israelites had embraced many of the pagan practices of the Egyptians during their four and a half centuries in North Africa. As they journeyed back to the Promised Land, God warned them that if they continued to practice paganism their punishment would be severe. In fact, God's reasons for removing the Canaanites included retribution for their own past (and multiple) abominations.
To indicate their repentance, the Israelites were commanded to totally eradicate the Canaanites, not just remove them. If Israel engaged in the same sinful, pagan practices, they would not be allowed to remain in the land. Of course, we know that Israel di adopt the ways of the Canaanites, slid into deprivation, and as a result they too were removed from their promised land and scattered.
God remains consistent in His judgment of sin and even those blessed of God should not think that they can ignore those blessings and remain intact, individually or corporately. Like Israel, God's convenant is irrevocable, but we should still be aware, concerned, and repentant.
Lord, be pleased to shake my clay cottage before Thou throwest it down. - Thomas Fuller
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