Curiosity of the Forbidden

Author: Joseph

Date: March 3, 2019

When our thoughts go astray from what God has instructed, we can quickly lose our sensitivity to what is good and what is evil. Our thoughts may not even appear to be evil because we think that we are thinking the way any rational person would in our given situation. Other times, we are simply too curious about what someone else is doing that we find ourselves ensnared by what we observe. God forewarned us about being curious of forbidden things.

Israel was about to enter the land of promise and Moses was instructing them in how to live for God. He warned them about the inhabitants of the land, saying, “beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?” (Deuteronomy 12:30). God plainly made it known to Israel that He was not to be served the way that false gods were served. He also showed that even their curiosity was forbidden, as they could not inquire how the nations served their false gods.

"You shall not behave thus toward the LORD..."

Moses continues to explain, “You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods” (Deuteronomy 12:31). The peoples’ behavior was not to reflect the believers of false gods. The other nations committed sin and horrendous acts of evil because of their false gods. The way they lived was a reflection of what they believed through their false gods.

Curiosity of forbidden things leads to ensnarement. This ensnarement, if not repented from, then leads to living in sin. The sin then becomes so attached to the person who was first ensnared by it, that it becomes a part of their identity. This is how it was with the nations who inhabited the land of promise.

The warning that Moses relayed to Israel was not solely about formal worship or sacrifices, it was about the entirety of the way that the nations lived for their false gods. Israel was not to be like those who did not have God. To serve God meant committing all of their thoughts, hearts, and actions to Him; it was also the same for those who believed in false gods. The warning Moses gave was a warning of the people either living for God and being His or living for something else and losing Him.

Do not be curious about the things of this world that God has forbidden. There are many things we can enjoy as believers and many good things that God has given us. When we seek to imitate people who do not have God, we deceive ourselves into thinking that the world has something better to offer us. We are deceived into thinking that when something in our lives is absent of God, it somehow has become more desirable. When something is forbidden by God, it is because what is forbidden is not only worse for us than what He has to offer, but is also always hostile to God and turns us away from Him. Nothing could be more undesirable than something that pushes us away from God.

Do not be curious regarding forbidden things, rather, eagerly seek to know God, live for Him, and walk in His ways.

Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 12:29-32

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). www.lockman.org