God was very specific, and I quote, "Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land." Yes, I have taken this verse out of context and no I have not used it incorrectly. I am using it to make a point.
God told Israel not to make a treaty with the people living in the land, their land. Of course, as can be seen in the context (Exodus 34:10-15) this was being told to the people who, under Moses, were preparing to enter the land and dispossess the inhabitants. Something needs to be made clear. This was a command and a warning. It didn't have an expiration date nor was it considered an obligation fulfilled once Israel was in possession of the land. It was to be their inheritance given to them by God and so those who would be left in the land were to serve the Israelites. Israel was not to make treaties with them then nor are they to make treaties with them now.
The disengagement plan of Ariel Sharon and the Road Map to Peace, in which the disengagement is a step towards fulfillment, are treaties with a people who are in the land. They are not the inheritors of the land nor were they ever granted title to it as a people or as individuals. God Almighty granted this exclusive piece of real estate to Israel alone.
Every step that Israel makes towards recognizing an illegitimate people as legitimate owners of what God had given Israel is a step towards complete rebellion against God himself!
God not only gave this command to not make treaties with the illegitimate of the land He also gave warning as to what would happen if they did.
Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you . . . . for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same.
Israel's history is a long story of being led astray by people far more wicked than themselves. God knows their weakness and so He warns them, they are ever hearing but never understanding.
Now Ariel Sharon is leading the sheep of his flock into the mouths of ravenous wolves. Israel no longer stands together against adversity in the name of the Most High God. Now they are divided among themselves and they are beginning to oppress those who eagerly await their Messiah to come. Sharon is preparing to steal their lands and their homes and GIVE them to a people who long for the day when the whole of the land will be theirs.
For those with eyes to see and ears to hear this is sheer insanity, but beyond that even is the gloom that will overshadow this people when they "legally" give away the land "permanently" to a people God promises to destroy for their treachery against Israel (Zephaniah 2:4-5)! Woe to you O' Israel, woe to you! You are rebelling against the very covenant that has set you apart as Holy to our God. When you do this He will one more time reject His people Israel. He will withdraw His hand of protection that even now is your refuge against the seething enemies that surround you. You will indeed find a moment of that worldly peace you traded your inheritance for and you will then pay dearly for it!
Is it too late? No!
Listen to the words of Almighty God, "Even now,"
declares the LORD , "return to me with all your heart, with
fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not
your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious
and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he
relents from sending calamity.
Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing
- grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.
Gather the people, consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing
at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride
her chamber.
Let the priests, who minister before the LORD , weep between the
temple porch and the altar. Let them say, "Spare your people,
O LORD . Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword
among the nations.Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where
is their God?' " Joel 2:12-17
When God warned Israel not to make treaties He also gave a specific proactive command:
Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. Do not worship any other god, for the LORD , whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Woe to you Israel if you do not heed the warnings of our jealous God!