God wanted Israel, as He wants Christians, to learn to utterly abhor and detest anything that had the potential of coming between them and their God. The believer's enemies are typically internal rather than external, and they pose a powerful threat to spiritual health and progress.

Many people find spiritual growth possible only when times are hard; prosperity tends to promote complacency.

Some duties exist simply because we are part of a larger family or community.

A worshiper's gift makes a statement about the worshiper and his God.

God chose Israel not because they were superior but because of what He could do through them for others.

Wisdom lies in recognizing the dangers that lie within us and doing battle with them daily.

Although God's people find many successes in the world, they must not fall prey to a spirit of pride. We succeed not because of our moral superiority but because of the faithfulness of our divine intercessor and because of the great mercy of God.