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snare

Exodus 23:31-33
"31 And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.
32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee."

"...if thou serve THEIR gods, it will surely be a SNARE unto thee." Idol worship and putting anything ahead of God is going to create problems for everyone. SNARE is a vivid picture. Birds and varmints are caught in traps called SNARES. Usually, they are lured by some kind of bait. Like a tasty morsel. When they take it they are SNARED and their ruin and destruction results.

In Joshua's situation, it would be tempting to make peace with the Canaanites and dwell among them. This would draw the Israelites into idolatry with their neighbors. God did not want that for His people. God's Grand Plan is for obedience from His people. God will be on the side of the Israelites. God will help them defeat their enemies!

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