Exodus 34:12-16 "Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods."
The LORD had just declared to Moses that He would make a covenant. The LORD would do miraculous things the world had never seen before. Speaking to Moses as the intercessor of the people under the law covenant, He promised that all the people of whom the intercessor was in the midst would see the work of the LORD. The LORD’s work would be fearful (cause reverence – Exodus 34-10).
After the LORD had declared what He would do, He gave instructions for us to follow. His instructions began with the admonition to take heed (guard) ourselves. If we do not keep up our guard, instead of honoring the LORD’s covenant, we will find ourselves making a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where we go. We will find ourselves ensnared in all kinds of trouble.
While the inhabitants of the land could be speaking of other people, there are “inhabitants” within the land (flesh) where we dwell. We encounter pride, doubt, self-righteousness, and a host of other things in our “land.” Sometimes we may be tempted to make a covenant with these things. We compromise our beliefs and our determination in a vain effort to quiet these inhabitants.
Remember that the LORD has made a covenant. As we tear down the altars of the things that would prevent us from serving Him, we see that great work He has done among us. Our Intercessor is in our midst, and though Him we see (know, understand) the great works of our God in our eternal redemption and our daily deliverance from the things of the world. Revere Him for the work that He has done and the covenant that He has made.