Sunday: The Canaanites’ Iniquity
Daily Lesson for Sunday 26th of October 2025
Read Genesis 15:16, Leviticus 18:24-30, Deuteronomy 18:9-14, and Ezra 9:11. What are these texts telling us about God’s larger plan in offering the land of Canaan to the Israelites?
We need to look beyond the book of Joshua to completely understand what was meant by the iniquity of the nations inhabiting Canaan. These nations’ abhorrent practices of child sacrifice, divination, sorcery, witchcraft, necromancy, and spiritualism give us a hint (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
Image © Stefan pavel at Goodsalt.com
The discovery of the ancient Ugaritic texts (from Ras Shamra) provides more insight into the Canaanite religion and society, and they demonstrate that condemnation of this culture was not only understandable but—according to Old Testament moral standards—also justified.
The Canaanite religion was based on the belief that natural phenomena, which assured fertility, were controlled by the sexual relationships between gods and goddesses. Thus, they envisioned the sexual activity of the deities in terms of their own sexual behavior and engaged in ritual sexual practices in order to incite the gods and goddesses to do likewise. This concept resulted in the institution of “sacred” prostitution, involving both male and female prostitutes engaging in orgiastic rites, again all as part of their own religious practices!
A nation cannot rise to a moral ground that is higher than that of the gods its people worship. As a result of such an understanding of their deities, it is no wonder the Canaanites’ religious practices included child sacrifice, which the Bible warned specifically against.
Archaeological evidence confirms that the inhabitants of Canaan regularly sacrificed their firstborn children to the gods, really demons, whom they worshiped. Little skeletons found crushed into large jars with votive inscriptions testify to their degrading religion and what it meant for many of their children.
The eradication of the Canaanites, then, was not an afterthought, something that emerged in the wake of God’s decision to give the land of Canaan to the Israelites. The inhabitants of Canaan were granted a time of probation, a time of additional mercy during which they had the opportunity to discover God and His character through the witness of the patriarchs living among them. They had the chance, but obviously they squandered it and continued in their horrific practices until the Lord finally had to put a stop to them.
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The story of the moral corruption of the Canaanites is and should be a mirror for us to reflect upon. This is not their story only; it is our story too! We have “Canaanites within,” which God is calling us to drive away or eliminate. When God commanded Israel to annihilate the Canaanites from the land, He was dealing with a deeply rooted moral corruption that had grown over the years. In the same manner, God is calling each one of us to deal decisively with the hidden sin, habits and influences that would corrupt our hearts if not removed. God want to possess our spiritual territory (1 Corinthians 6:19), our hearts, minds and daily lives. We are a territory that God wants to reign fully, and all “Canaanite stronghold” should be ruthlessly demolished.
God commanded Israel not to make peace treaties with the Canaanites (Deut. 7:2). In the same way, God is calling us not to compromise with any “Canaanite influences” which often become spiritual strongholds. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (Galatians 5:9). Little compromises multiply quietly, just as the surviving Canaanites later drew Israel into idolatry. Partial obedience is disobedience. We must not act partially like Israel, which left pockets of Canaanite survivors. The scripture warns us not to spare any “Canaanite survivors”.“Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” ( Romans 13:14).
The Canaanites of old are long gone, but their spiritual counterparts live on. Let God fight our battles, the ” Canaanites within” should be annihilated totally, and we shall enjoy peace within the territory of our hearts.
“Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God." (Corinthians 7:1, NLT).
The Canaanite pantheon, including Baal, Anat, and Astarte, were deities associated with fertility, rain, war, love, and life. Asherah, their mother, was revered as the goddess of 67 other deities. In ancient Canaan, where medical practices were limited, people faced numerous challenges, including maternal mortality, infertility, drought, and locust invasions. Attributing these issues to mystical forces, the Canaanites turned to idolatry and totem worship, seeking solutions to their problems. This led to the horrific practice of human sacrifice, particularly child sacrifice, known in Hebrew as "Avodah zarah" or "strange worship" (Leviticus 18:21; 20:2-5).
The Bible unequivocally condemns such practices as abominable (Deuteronomy 12:31; 18:10). Yet, in today's world, similar forms of "strange worship" persist. Hedonism, materialism, and the pursuit of self have become widespread, leading to corruption, violence, and dark practices, even within Christian communities. The rise of cultic practices and extreme fanaticism in some emerging churches is also a concern. The Bible warns against idolatry, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing God (Exodus 20:3-5; Deuteronomy 5:7-9).
In this context, it's essential to reflect on our own lives, acknowledging the subtle forms of idolatry that may have crept in. Without God at the helm, humanity is prone to chaos, as seen in the period of the judges, when "everyone did what was right in their own eyes" (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). Let today's study prompt us to assess our ways, repent, and return to the One who guides us toward truth and life.
Thank you Stanley for this explanation. You have put the evil of the Canaanites in proper perspective.
Thanks for such a more explained study
The destruction of Canaan was not an impulsive act or even an emotional outburst, but more of an outworking of God’s long declared intention to cleanse the land of corruption and establish His holy people in righteousness according to His will and principles. God din't just allow their destruction just as an afterthought but thus was part of God’s divine plan and intention from the beginning. As bible reveals, God had long declared His purpose to judge the Canaanites for their abominations. Their culture was brutal and wicked, engaging in the very sins listed in Leviticus 18—incest, child sacrifice, homosexuality, and bestiality. Because of these detestable practices, “the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants” (Leviticus 18:24–27). God had already foretold this in Genesis 15:13–16, telling Abraham that his descendants would return to the land only after four generations, “for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” Thus, God’s command to destroy the Canaanites was a deliberate act of judgment that had been determined centuries earlier, not a sudden or arbitrary decision.
Just as the laws of nature operate by unchanging order and consequence, God’s moral laws also demand justice and righteousness.When the Canaanites continually violated these divine laws through corruption and evil, the natural outcome was judgment. Their destruction, therefore, was not random but the moral law of God at work—bringing order by removing what defiled the land. In carrying out this destruction, God would have used any other means including pestilence or even any pandemic to meet the same goal and achieve same results but He choose to use the Israelites as His instrument to execute justice on a people who had persistently rejected repentance despite over 400 years of patience and slided all opportunities provide by God. The Canaanites had heard of God’s mighty works (Joshua 2:10–11; 9:9), yet they hardened their hearts instead of turning to Him. This divine judgment was both righteous and purposeful—it purified the land and fulfilled God’s covenant promises to Abraham. Rahab and her family, who believed and were spared (Joshua 2), stand as proof that mercy was available to any who turned to God.
Yes, Rahab's testimony and confession revealed that God indeed gave the Canaanites a chance to surrender to Yahweh, the God Israel worshiped. She said that the people had heard about the mighty acts of this God for and through Israel. She confessed further that they had been terribly terrified and their hearts melted and became like water. She simply said, their foundations and trust anchored on earthly gods had been shaken (hence the expression becoming like water). She was convinced the God of Israel would defeat their gods and give the land to the Israelites. She asked to be protected by this God and she received the protection when the day of judgement came. This same protection that Rahab received through obedience (which she revealed by tying the red garment by her house as instructed by the spies), was available for every Canaanite who would make the same choice as Rehab.
God’s actions are always perfect. He could have thought of fertile lands with no wicked people on them for the Israelites. But He chose a people to show the nations about His love and His power. God always gives people the chance to change. God’s Justice can only condemn those who freely choose to do evil.
Thanks for your good comment. In fact men invite condemnations to themselves at the moment of rejecting the light. Remember Christ's words that He never came to condemn the world but this is the condemnation, that the light came but men loved darkness. The love of darkness and rejection of light brings condemnation and this is what the caananities did. Judgement is in our choices.
The conquest of Canaan reveals God’s justice and patience. He delayed judgment for centuries, giving the Canaanites time to repent. But when their sin and corruption became unbearable, He acted to cleanse the land. God’s justice is never harsh or sudden—it is measured, purposeful, and always serves His redemptive plan.
Be sure your sins will find you out!!
While God is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish
He is also a God of Justice.
Eventually, we all will have to pay for the unrepented sins done in our mortal bodies.
Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your heart!!!!!!
According to Deuteronomy 18:9-14 in regards to these practices which the LORD told them not to be found among them "any" that doeth these abominable things: how does this apply to today's times in some families where one may utilize this type of practice? How may I share truth In evangelism to those families who are tainted with such practices?
It probably depends on your relationship with them and their openness. I find usually condemning practices without a relationship of trust doesn't typically work very well.
I would invest in the relationship as much as you can and pray for opportunities where the person is open to hearing truth.
I'll give you an example - I have a former colleague who is a friend and we get together now and then. The last time I met up with her, she was telling me that she is "ghost chasing" (her words) which involves going to places that are supposedly haunted and trying to encounter spirits. Obviously when I heard that, I was highly troubled. I immediately prayed to God for guidance and not long after, she said "What do you think about all this?" That opened the door for me to explain what the Bible teaches about death and that therefore "ghosts and spirits" are really demons. I told her I wouldn't want to mess around with that stuff. She listened respectfully as she had asked the question. I'm not sure that she will stop "ghost chasing" but I gave her something to think about.
In some countries abortion is legally allowed when a woman simply does not want to have the baby. I am not referring to instances of rape, incest or the health of the mother/fetus. How should we look at this situation in light of what we studied today? How should we advise someone who wants to have an abortion and asked us for our opinion? Please consider Matthew 28:19,20.
If they have a spiritual perspective, I would point them to passages like Psalm 139 and incidents where God chose someone before they were born to show that life is valued by God before birth.
God destroyed the Canaanites because of their abominable acts. As the lesson noted, these acts included idolatry, sexual immorality, child sacrifice, and violence—sins that defied God’s holiness and degraded human life.
Today, our abominable acts may look different in form but not in spirit. They include idolatry in modern forms—worshiping wealth, power, or self; the devaluation of human life through violence and indifference; sexual immorality and moral confusion; corruption and injustice; pride and self-sufficiency that leave no room for God.
Just as in ancient times, these sins erode societies and hearts from within. Yet God’s call remains the same: “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” (Ezekiel 33:11). His desire is not destruction, but repentance and restoration.
We have far more light and revelation from God today than the Canaanites ever did. They heard of His power but chose rebellion. We, on the other hand, have the full Word of God, the life and teachings of Christ, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the witness of history showing the results of obedience and disobedience. With greater light comes greater responsibility (Luke 12:47–48). If God judged the Canaanites for rejecting the little light they had, how much more accountable are we who live in the full light of the cross and grace?
Quote: “A nation cannot rise to a moral ground that is higher than that of the gods its people worship;” all ‘moral’ behavior has its roots in a spiritual source. Our God promotes unconditional devotion to Him through loving Him and so abiding in His Way. His adversary promotes devotion to himself through enticing man to explore unbounded promiscuity in all aspects of life.
Matt.7:15-20 - ”Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistle? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
Heb.4:12 – When we love God with all our heart and being, we find refuge for our spirit in God's Spirit of Truth - His Holy Spirit!
Quoting this lesson's writer: “A nation cannot rise to a moral ground that is higher than that of the gods its people worship.” Matt.7:15-20; Heb.4:12.
The moral aspect of our behavior is guided by the spirit by which it is inspired. The Holy Spirit promotes the following of God's Way through encouraging us to love Him unreservedly. In contrast, His adversary entraps man by promoting unbounded/promiscuous/indiscriminate 'love of self' as the best way of life.
The original meaning for 'promiscuous' was simply to mingle things in a confused or unselective manner. (AI)
Please note that AI is not an authority to be quoted. It is a medium for transmitting information. It is the same as saying I used the telephone to find out the meaning. What is important, is the source of the information, not the node of delivery. An AI engine worth its salt would have told you the source of the etymology of "promiscuous" as one of many etymological English dictionaries. By all means use AI to find these things but don't quote it as a source.
Thanks for the clarification, Maurice! Will do!
God is always there to fight for us. Israel fought physical war but we Christians today we fight a spiritual war as Paul states at Eph 6:12. What God requires from us is obedience. Let's allow Jesus to fight for us.