Deuteronomy 12 is a preview into what would become the Achilles heel of the nation of Israel. As they moved into the land of Canaan, displacing the pagan nations already there (who were annihilated not in favor of Israel but because of their own wickedness, i.e. not in arbitrary fashion), they failed to fully eradicate the idol worship. Having come from the barrenness of the desert and now witnessing the lush, fertile land of Canaan, perhaps they thought the gods of the previous tenants were responsible and offerred more than what their God had provided. Regardless, God specifically instructed them to tear down the pagan altars and smash their idols. He told them not to "fall into the trap of following their customs" and not to "inquire about their gods, saying 'how do these nations worship their gods?'" Again, because He knows the heart of man, for whom the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, God warned Israel not to even flirt with the religious practices of other nations. Their curiosity was not to be expressed, as God did not want Satan to gain a foothold in their lives. Many of the pagan practices were tied to sexual immorality (to put it mildly...orgies and temple prostitutes say it more clearly) and were very seductive if "dabbled with". Other detestable practices included human sacrifice, which God explicitly denounced in verse 12:31.
Tomorrow's reading: Deuteronomy 13-16:17
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To piggy back on yesterdays post, Deu. 11:5 pointed out that Moses was speaking to the people that were in the wilderness with him. He says "it was not your children who saw what he did for you in the desert." I thought is was interesting how when God spared those that were 20 years old and younger, it allowed first-hand knowledge of all the things the Lord had done.
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