Do Not Leave Behind Things You Will Regret
Bible passage: Joshua 11:21-23
“21. At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22. No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive. 23. So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war. "
In Korea, there was a remarkable pastor who made significant contributions as a biblical scholar, publishing a comprehensive commentary on both the Old and New Testaments. From the age of 16 until his retirement after turning 70, he suffered from foot pain that prevented him from moving freely. He spent much of his time in his study, researching the Bible and writing commentaries.
He went to the hospital for diagnosis, but no specific cause was found, so he just endured it. When he was younger, he managed to live with the pain, but as he aged and approached retirement, the pain became unbearable. He eventually underwent surgery, and a 1.5 cm-long wire, about the thickness of a strand of hair, was removed from his heel. Upon reflection, he remembered that during his school days, he had once climbed a tree near his house as a prank, fell to the ground, and felt a slight prick in his heel. Since there was no significant pain afterward, he forgot about it. Occasionally, when his foot hurt, he would take painkillers and carry on.
However, after turning 70, his body weakened, his immunity dropped, and his stamina declined. This small wire fragment caused inflammation and such severe pain that he could no longer walk, leading to the eventual surgery. If the tiny wire had been discovered and removed earlier, he would not have suffered for so many years and would have avoided the hardship of surgery in old age.
Today's scripture contains a similar lesson. When Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River into Canaan, they conquered the seven indigenous tribes and took over most of the land of Canaan. In verse 21, it says “At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns.” And in verse 23, it says “So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.” However, there is something strange here. It clearly says that the inhabitants were destroyed and cut off and that the war ended as Joshua took the entire land as directed by Moses. But verse 22 contains an unusual statement: It says, “No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod some remained.”
It mentions that while there were no Anakites left in the land of Israel, a few still remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. What could the phrase "a few remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod" mean? Although it says Joshua completely destroyed the Canaanites and took over all the land, strictly speaking, the fact that a few were left in certain places means the conquest was not complete, and therefore, the victory was not entirely absolute. On the surface, it might seem acceptable to say that Joshua and the Israelites had conquered the entire land of Canaan since only Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod were left. However, the Bible deliberately records that “a few remained.” Why? The reason is that God wants to convey something significant about this situation. Today, let us explore what God wants to teach us through the phrase “a few remained.”
1. To achieve a complete victory without regrets, one must completely uproot and remove the roots of sin that can become the source of future trouble.
God desired that no remnants of the Canaanite inhabitants, which could later become a source of disaster, be left in the promised land of Canaan. This is because even a "small remnant" left behind could eventually return as a significant source of trouble. The term "source of trouble" refers to the root of disaster or the cause of failure. However, Joshua and the Israelites did not realize this. They declared, “This much is enough to consider it a victory. The war is over. It’s just a small amount left; what significant problem could it cause? It’s fine. With this, we have essentially conquered all of Canaan.
The war is over!” But God, who governs history and foresees the future, knew that even a small remnant left behind would later become a significant source of trouble for Israel. Thus, God, in His concern, left the phrase “a few remained” in the Bible to warn future Christians to recognize this truth. Twenty years ago, there was a Korean movie called “The Host”. In this thrilling film, a massive and ugly monster emerges from the Han River in the heart of Seoul, creating chaos. People might dismiss it as mere science fiction, asking, “How could such a monster appear in a modern city’s river?” But such scenarios are not entirely unimaginable.
The movie explained that the monster emerged because a nearby military base illegally discharged formalin, a chemical used to preserve human corpses, into the Han River. This toxic chemical waste was ingested by fish in the river, causing mutations in their DNA. Over time, one of these fish transformed into the monster. While the movie served as a warning about environmental pollution, it’s a fact that environmental pollutants can cause significant mutations in humans, animals, plants, and nature. In today’s scripture, let’s explore how the “small remnant” of inhabitants left in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod eventually turned into figurative “monsters” that troubled the Israelites. In verse 22, it says, “There were no Anakites left in the land of Israel,” referring to the Anakites, a tribe of giants who had greatly oppressed Israel among the Canaanite inhabitants.
Historically, Joshua and the Israelites completed their conquest of Canaan around 1400 BC. About 340 years later, around 1060 BC, Samson, one of Israel’s strongest judges, encountered a prostitute in Gaza. Judges 16:1 says, “One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.” Later, Samson met Delilah in the Valley of Sorek, who deceived and ruined him. Then, about 10 years after that, during the time of Eli the priest in 1050 BC, Israel went to war with the Philistines. In that war, the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and took it to their territory in Ashdod. 1 Samuel 5:1 says, “After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.” About 30 years after that, around 1020 BC, Goliath, a giant from Gath, emerged to threaten Israel.
1 Samuel 17:4 says, “A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.” So, do you see how the “small remnant” left in Canaan turned into “monsters” over 350 years? In Ashdod, the Philistines arose as a “monster,” capturing the Ark of God. In Gaza, Delilah became a “monster” who destroyed Samson. In Gath, Goliath emerged as a “monster,” threatening Israel and bringing them to the brink of destruction.
The fact that the Ark of God was taken by a nation that worshiped idols symbolizes God’s people being criticized and mocked by the world, rather than being a positive influence. Samson, chosen by God, being humiliated by Delilah represents God’s children living by worldly standards and methods, resulting in disaster. The appearance of Goliath before Israel represents trials and challenges so overwhelming that no human effort can overcome them. If a small remnant is left behind, it can lead to such disasters, humiliation, and suffering. Knowing this, God commanded, “Leave nothing behind; destroy it completely.” Yet the Israelites left a small remnant, which eventually became a source of trouble. Beloved believers! For years, as you have listened to the Gospel of holiness, you have followed God’s commands to do, not do, cast away, and keep. You have removed many falsehoods from your heart and undergone significant transformation. But what have you still not cast away and left behind?
Do you find yourself saying, “I have cast away most of it. There isn’t much left now. Isn’t this enough?” Remember that over time, what is left behind can manifest as a “monster.” It can appear as a monster of disease that harms your health, a monster of poverty that destroys financial blessings, a monster of discord and conflict that undermines family happiness, or a monster in the form of problems with your children. Even the sins inherited through your lineage and the roots of sin buried deep in your nature should not be left behind. Completely uproot these sources of trouble and burn them with the fire of the Holy Spirit so that you may achieve complete victory in life, free of regrets.
2. To achieve a complete victory without regrets, one must address their weaknesses.
In truth, the "small remnants left behind" were not a significant issue when Israel was strong. During the early stages of conquering Canaan, the remaining Canaanites were subdued by Israel's might. They lived as servants, cutting wood and drawing water, or paid tribute while being ruled by Israel. However, as time passed and Israel's absolute faith in God weakened, they began worshiping idols and adopting worldly customs. Consequently, they lost God's protection, their national power declined, and the "small remnants" of foreign nations, like monsters, emerged from various places, causing problems and disasters.
When a volcano erupts or an earthquake occurs, the weakest points of the earth's surface are the first to break, unleashing disaster. A few years ago, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Turkey, causing massive destruction. Typically, the depth of an earthquake's focus is hundreds of kilometers, but in this case, it was only 24 kilometers deep. The earthquake occurred at a shallow and weak point in the ground, exacerbating the damage. Similarly, if sin or fleshly desires remain in our hearts, or if falsehoods and wrongdoing persist in our lives of faith, what will happen? Even if everything seems fine now, and you say, "It’s okay. There’s no problem. I’m doing well," this is a very dangerous situation. Let me use an analogy. Imagine a plastic beach ball filled with air.
A child presses it underwater at the pool with their foot. From above the water, it seems as though the ball isn't there because the child’s foot is invisible. But the ball is still underwater, just hidden from view. The moment the child loses strength and releases the ball, it will pop up to the surface with a loud splash. In the same way, if we leave behind sins, falsehoods, or fleshly desires without fully casting them away, they can resurface in our lives when we become weak. After Joshua passed away, the Israelites quickly turned away from God and followed the ways of Canaan. As a result, troubles arose. Similarly, when we stray from God’s word, the same can happen to us. When the Israelites worshiped idols forbidden by God and failed to live according to His laws, their faith weakened, and their zeal for God diminished. Just as Ashdod rose up and stole the Ark of God, when we fail to live by God's word, the enemy, Satan, can steal our grace, joy, and happiness.
In Gaza, Delilah emerged, leading even the strongest judge, Samson, to fall, turning peaceful Israel into chaos. In the same way, if God’s children leave behind sin and fleshly desires, these can become the root of troubles, preventing blessings and leading to a life filled with hardships and regrets. In Gath, Goliath appeared, striking fear into the Israelites and leaving them trembling. Likewise, even if life seems peaceful now, a “Goliath” can rise, bringing waves of fear and valleys of despair into your life. Philippians 2:15 says, “so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” What are your weaknesses? Is prayer a weak area for you? Are you participating in Daniel night prayers? Are you attending home cell group meetings? Are you attending Wednesday services?
Is your weakness a lack of sincere and true worship? Or are you weak in the Word of God? Are you reading the Bible? Are you arming yourself with holiness through the Word you hear? Are you meditating on the Word, taking it as nourishment, and putting it into practice? Which areas do you think are your weaknesses? Is it love? Are you struggling to forgive others? Do you still harbor anger, lust, or deceit? Do you enjoy gossiping or engage in judgment and criticism? What are your weaknesses? If you don’t address them, you’ll regret it. Ephesians 3:16 says, “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being.” Even if there seems to be no issue now and things appear to be going smoothly, the enemy, Satan, can exploit your weaknesses to make your life difficult. People often say, “This is my weakness.” For example, I recently suffered from bronchitis and coughed a lot. I’ve known for a while that my bronchial health is a weakness of mine. However, even though I know it, I refrain from saying, “My weak point is my bronchial health.”
Why? Because the enemy, Satan, will attack our weaknesses. Instead, I say, “Right now, my bronchial health is a weak point, but it will become a strength.” 2 Corinthians 12:10 says, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” It says, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” If we declare, “This is my weakness,” the enemy remembers and attacks it. Therefore, we must quickly transform our weaknesses into strengths. When I shared this with Mama Bishop, she went to the market and discovered that turmeric is good for the bronchial system. She bought it, and now I occasionally drink turmeric tea. Of course, I also pray, “Father God, do not let my weak bronchial health remain a weakness. Make it a strength. Grant me healthy bronchial health.” When weaknesses are exposed, the enemy will continue to attack them.
That’s why I declare, “My bronchial health is not my weakness; it will become my strength.” I drink turmeric tea and pray fervently to turn this weakness into a strength. In the same way, we must identify our weaknesses and work to address them so they don’t become a source of trouble. By transforming our weaknesses into strengths, we can achieve complete victory without regrets.
3. To achieve a complete victory without regrets, your outward appearance must align with your inner self.
When one’s outward appearance and inner reality are different, it is called hypocrisy or being two-faced. Hypocrisy means that one’s surface and reality do not align, and it often describes someone whose inner character is deceitful or cunning. It is generally used negatively, such as describing someone as “evil despite appearances” or “deceptively wicked.” The opposite term is integrity, which refers to consistency in words and actions, unwavering commitment, and alignment between beginning and end. When someone’s words and actions do not align, and their character changes, they become a two-faced person. Israel was God’s chosen people, a holy nation beloved by Him, and a priestly nation.
During Joshua’s time, they lived as God’s people, following His word and acting like a priestly nation. However, as time passed, they strayed from God, worshiped idols, ignored the law, followed the worldly customs of the Canaanite natives, and committed vile sins, leading to their downfall. Outwardly, Israel appeared to be God’s chosen people and a priestly nation, but inwardly, they had become a corrupt and hypocritical nation. It was during this period that the disgraceful events in Ashdod occurred, Delilah emerged in Gaza to humiliate Israel’s strongest judge, Samson, and Goliath, a descendant of the Anakites, appeared in Gath to mock and endanger Israel. The farther one strays from truth, reality, and goodness, the more falsehood, deceit, and evil creep in.
The gap created by a disparity between outward and inward reality is where Satan, the enemy, infiltrates to cause problems. In Matthew 26:69 and following verses, we read about Peter during Jesus’ arrest at the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was taken to the house of the high priest, Caiaphas. Peter followed Him, but at a distance. It was in this gap that Peter encountered a servant girl, leading to his great mistake of denying Jesus three times. Though Peter was outwardly a disciple of Jesus, fear overwhelmed him. While his outward appearance remained that of a disciple, his inner self was filled with betrayal and sin. As a result, Peter denied Jesus three times. Later, after meeting the resurrected Lord, Peter’s outward and inward lives became unified. He devoted himself to serving Jesus, eventually being crucified upside-down as a martyr, bringing glory to God.
If we were to identify the most hypocritical person in the Bible, who would it be? I believe it is Absalom. In 2 Samuel 14:25, it is written as follows: "In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom; from the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him." Outwardly, he was the most handsome man in Israel. But what was he like inside? He deceitfully won the hearts of the people, betrayed his father, King David, staged a rebellion, dethroned David, and committed heinous crimes to usurp the throne. He was completely two-faced, and what was his end? One of his most celebrated outward features, his hair, became his downfall.
During a battle, it got caught in an oak tree, leaving him dangling helplessly. He was then speared and met a tragic end. Consider Joab, David’s army commander during his reign. Joab was known for his valor and strategy, making him one of the most loyal contributors to David’s success. Outwardly, he seemed immensely devoted. For instance, in 2 Samuel 12:26 and following verses, Joab was about to capture Rabbah, the Ammonite capital. Yet, instead of claiming the victory for himself, he sent a messenger to David, saying: "Come and capture the city, lest it be named after me." On the surface, his actions appeared selfless and loyal. However, Joab disobeyed David’s orders behind his back and acted on his own will, showing that he was a hypocrite. For example, without David’s permission, he deceitfully lured Abner, the commander of Israel’s northern kingdom, and killed him. He later murdered his cousin Amasa, who had replaced him as commander, under the guise of a warm welcome.
Even when David explicitly ordered Joab not to kill Absalom during his rebellion, Joab disregarded this and speared Absalom’s heart despite protests from his men. David knew Joab’s hypocrisy and warned Solomon, saying, "Do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace." Eventually, Joab sided with Adonijah instead of Solomon and met a tragic end. Outwardly, Israel appeared to be God’s chosen people and a priestly nation, but inwardly, they worshiped idols, followed worldly customs, and strayed from God. This growing disparity between their reputation and reality left a gap for evil to rise from the remnants of Ashdod, Gaza, and Gath, bringing disaster upon them. We are members of the Manmin community, blessed by God’s great grace. We are empowered by His authority and inspired by His love, striving toward New Jerusalem as holy believers. We are the shepherd’s flock, called to be spiritual leaders of the world. But what about our hearts? What about our lives? Are we hypocritical?
Do our outward appearances align with our inner reality? We must live as God’s children, as the shepherd’s flock, and as spiritual leaders of Manmin. Let us root out any lingering worldly desires and falsehoods. Let us cast aside anything in our lives that contradicts our identity as God’s true children. By aligning our outward actions and inner hearts, we can remove the seeds of trouble, becoming people of integrity who achieve complete victories without regret. Conclusion Sometimes, while walking down the street, you may see ongoing construction. Dirt is piled up, barriers are erected, and the work often causes significant inconvenience to pedestrians. Usually, a sign that reads “Construction in progress” is placed, apologizing for the disruption and seeking understanding from the public.
However, there was one time when I noticed a sign that said “Construction in progress”, but the work seemed abandoned. Dirt was piled up by the roadside, but no further construction had been done, and it appeared to be neglected. Upon closer inspection, I realized that a project that could have been completed in a week had been left unfinished for over a month, causing unnecessary inconvenience to those who used the road. I share this story because many of us are in a similar situation when it comes to the “construction of our hearts.” For 10, 20 years or more, we have been carrying the sign “Construction in progress” but have failed to actually complete the “circumcision of the heart.” There are things in our hearts that need to be discarded and areas that need to be replaced.
Yet, instead of addressing them, we leave up the sign “Construction in progress”, making life difficult not only for ourselves but also for those around us. Now is the time to uproot falsehoods one by one and ensure we do not become like the Israelites, leaving behind seeds of trouble that later cause regret. Instead, let us be wise and complete the construction of our hearts thoroughly. The following is the summary of today’s message:
1. To achieve a complete victory without regrets, we must uproot and completely remove the roots of sin and fleshly desires that could later become sources of trouble.
2. To achieve a complete victory without regrets, we must address our weaknesses, which could later become sources of trouble, and transform them into strengths.
3. To achieve a complete victory without regrets, we must become people of integrity, whose outward actions align with their inner selves - people of spirit and holiness. As written in 1 Thessalonians 5:23: "May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Let us quickly finish the “construction of our hearts” and prepare to joyfully await the Lord, who will soon return to take us to Him. In the name of the Lord, I bless all of us to become such people. - END -
