The idea of holiness is a simple one, but it’s a tough one. To be holy means to be separate from evil. Sacred. Pure. Clean. To be holy means to keep yourself from evil and evil intentions.

That’s what Joshua called the people of Israel together for at the end of the book of Joshua. In Joshua 23, Israel has gained peace and rest from the war of the land of Canaan. Joshua is getting old and ready to die, so he gathers the people of Israel to give them one final mandate. The war may be over, but the work continues.

He reminds them of everything they’ve seen God do and then follows with an exhortation: 

Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day (Joshua 23:6-8).

Sounds great, right? Stay strong. Keep the law. Cling to God. As always, though, there is an opposite side to the coin.

For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you. (Joshua 23:12,13)

Those are some pretty high stakes. Lose faith, and you’ll never get rest from your troubles for the rest of your life. That’s life though. There’s a give and take to these kinds of things. Joshua sums up the idea in verses 15-16.

But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you, if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you. (Joshua 23: 15,16)

It’s not an uncommon concept. Many may look at these verses and think that God is being harsh. That he’s not a loving God. But it’s really more of a cause-and-effect reality. The Hindu and Buddhist concepts of karma say the same thing. Whatever a person does in life will be returned on him: good for good, evil for evil. Or, as Paul explains it, “A man reaps what he sows.”

The people of Israel had a choice to make. Follow God and his laws, and life would more peaceful. Rebel, and war would result. The same is true for us. Not war necessarily. Just conflict. Following the law of love doesn’t bring about the absence of conflict, but the introduction of peace. Keeping faith ensures that whatever happens, you’ve got a strong ally on your side. Be at peace with your surroundings. Follow God. Keep the faith.