Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

acks before their enemies, because they were accursed; neither will I be
with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you."
Israel had sinned; and as their chief magistrate, Joshua had a work to do
to search out the guilty one, and put away the sin from the congregation.
Instead of concluding that the Lord had brought upon his people defeat and
ruin, Joshua should rather have made diligent inquiry if all Israel had been
faithful to their covenant with God.
The Lord had wrought wondrously for his people. It was not their skill
or valor that had overthrown the mighty walls of Jericho. The power of the
Lord of hosts had given them the victory. That city might be regarded as the
first-fruits of Canaan, and hence was to be wholly devoted to the Lord. The
only advantages which the people were to gain from their success were the
destruction of their enemies, and the control of the country. Therefore they
were forbidden to appropriate any of the spoils. The gold and silver, with the
vessels of brass and iron, were to enrich the treasury of the Lord. Besides
these, all the wealth of that great city, with every living creature, was to be
utterly consumed with fire. Should any Israelite venture to reserve a portion
of the spoils, the curse which rested upon Jericho would surely fall upon
him.
Here the Lord gave expression to his abhorrence of idolatry. Those
heathen nations had turned from the worship of the living God, and were
paying homage to demons. Shrines and temples, beautiful statues, and costly
monuments, all the most ingenious and expensive works of art, had held the
thoughts and affections of the veriest slavery to Satanic delusions.
The human heart is naturally inclined to idolatry and self-exaltation. The
costly and beautiful monuments of heathen worship would please the fancy
and engage the senses, and thus allure the Israelites from the service of God.
It was to remove this temptation from his people that the Lord commanded
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