Deuteronomy 7:26 Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.
Did you see that news article recently about a cat that jumped into a vat of toxic chemicals in Japan and got out and ran away? The authorities are looking for the cat because of the dangerous, perhaps lethal to human chemicals now on this cat’s body. They don’t want some well-meaning person to capture the cat and attempt to clean it up, exposing themselves and others to the toxic chemicals.
The cat is like a little time bomb running around and hiding. When alive it can come in contact with many people, food sources, and property, making it all toxic. When it dies, the runoff of its remains will contaminate the soil and water supply. Not a welcome guest!
Did the cat do this on purpose? Did they want to jeopardize themself and others in the process? Was this some crazy suicide pact on behalf of all the other creatures on the planet making a statement about the negative effect of human industry on the planet? NO!
This was just a cat being a cat. It wasn’t a willful act. The cat couldn’t read the warning labels on the outside of the vat. The cat hadn’t read the research on the long and short term side effects of exposure. It is a cat!
Our text tells us about a toxic substance that Israel is warned not to bring into their homes. The LORD knows this substance will kill them, sever their relationship of life with Him. It will bring death and the LORD warns them. This passage is the warning label.
So what is this toxic substance? This toxic substance is called a detestable thing. The objects were false gods, idols make to look like animals, heavenly objects, other people. They were objects of worship and veneration.
So why were they toxic to Israel? Because the LORD was instructing them on how to be different from the surrounding nations. He had appeared to them in person, talking to them from the fiery cloud. No other god, especially these idols could do such a thing. The LORD was unique.
What are the objects from our society that we have allowed in our homes, in our lives, that work to sever our relationship with the LORD and with his people? What beliefs have we allowed to creep in and slowly rot our faith, our trust in the LORD?
Like that toxic Japanese cat, there is only one way to deal with these things. We must get rid of them completely. We must take them to the landfill and destroy them. A yard sale is too high an end for them. They must be destroyed.
The Arnold Journey 