Exodus 23:32,33 ‘You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. “They shall not live in your land, because they will make you sin against Me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”’
The Lord was doing a new thing. He was calling out a special people unto Himself. It’s not because He didn’t love everyone else. He was drawing a huge object lesson. It was all pointing towards the redemption of all humankind. That wouldn’t be realized until Jesus. For now, He was focusing on the Jews.
He wants His people holy and dedicated to Him. He didn’t want them following other gods. That was the result of associating with outsiders. When Balaam sought to betray Israel, he told the enemy to send in foreign young women with their idols. This corrupted Israel.
What are we to learn from this? Are we not to associate with unbelievers? That wasn’t Jesus’ model. One of the complaints of the pharisees was that He befriended sinners and tax collectors. Jesus response to them was, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick”, Matthew 9:13. Does the New Testament say we should avoid anyone? Yes. 1 Corinthians 5:11 says, “But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”
Why is that? I can think of two reasons. The first is the same as in today’s passage: to avoid corruption. We all sin. It’s the believer who is sinning and doesn’t have a problem with it. There is no remorse or desire to change. We are social beings that influence one another. The Lord doesn’t want sinful behave to be transmitted within the church. We are told to avoid them.
A second reason to avoid them is for their welfare. If they are excommunicated they will learn the lesson, repent and return. Paul says earlier in the Corinthian passage, “I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (5:5). Turning them away is delivering them to Satan. They don’t have the protection of the body of Christ. It’s like being outside during a storm. The elements get them. Sometimes their lifestyle is so destructive that they die.
This sounds harsh. However, it’s big picture. Their soul is saved, before too much bad influence is done. Also, there is a message to the church. Don’t go that route. It’s almost like a quarantine. Someone with ebola is put in a place that others won’t be infected.
Lord, give us wisdom in our relationships. Help us to avoid corruption.