God turned away

“For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that He will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.” Deut 23:9-14

Although this passage talks about maintaining purity and holiness among God’s people during times of military encampment, it demonstrates a principle central to God’s relationship with His people: His presence demands holiness. The Lord’s presence is contingent upon the holiness of His people. Hab 1:13 says to God: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.”

The key point here is what can hinder God from moving among His people.

The camp represents the community of believers, and God is actively dwelling among them to protect and deliver. However, anything “indecent” or impure can cause Him to turn away. God’s holy presence cannot coexist with unrepentant sin or spiritual carelessness. The holiness of God demands not only external cleanliness but also inward moral and spiritual purity.

In verses 9-10, when the Israelites encamped against their enemies, they were instructed to “keep away from everything impure.” Impurity, whether physical or spiritual, disrupts fellowship with God. In the New Testament context, this can extend to anything that defiles the heart or mind (e.g., sinful habits, unclean thoughts, or behaviours).

In verses 12-13, God instructed the Israelites to establish sanitary practices, such as designating a place for relieving themselves and properly disposing of waste. These instructions not only had practical health implications but also spiritual significance, as cleanliness reflected God’s holy nature.

Cleanliness and orderliness are outward signs of respect for God’s holiness.

Today, believers are called to maintain spiritual “cleanliness” by aligning their lives with God’s Word, practising self-discipline, and avoiding behaviours that dishonour Him.

Verse 14 discusses the risk of God turning away. The Lord warned that if He found anything “indecent” in the camp, He would turn away. God’s presence and blessing are conditional upon the purity of His people. His presence among the Israelites was their source of victory, and without it, they would be vulnerable to defeat. Sin can grieve the Spirit of God and hinder His work among His people (Eph 4:30). Isa 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

To experience God’s presence and power, believers must pursue righteousness and ensure their lives and communities are free from sin that would cause God to “turn away.”

Here we see that impurity, indecency, and disregard for holiness can hinder God from moving among His people. Whether it is personal sin, communal neglect of God’s standards, or spiritual complacency, these can block the flow of His protection, guidance, and blessings. Believers are called to be holy because God is holy (1 Peter 1:16). Purity in thought, word, and deed is essential for intimacy with Him. The Church is described as the body and bride of Christ, called to be without spot or blemish (Eph 5:27). Unaddressed sin within the body of believers can hinder the Spirit’s work.

The promise of 1 John 1:9 assures believers that when they confess their sins, God forgives and cleanses them, restoring fellowship.

God desires to move among His people to bless and protect them, but His presence is contingent upon their holiness. Anything indecent or impure, whether in their personal lives or communal practices, can cause Him to turn away. For God to move powerfully, His people must prioritise purity, seek cleansing from sin, and ensure their lives reflect His holy nature.

Kay Alli