One time this happened is chronicled in the book of Judges. The Israelites’ leader, Joshua, had just died, and God told the men of Judah to lead the way in fighting against the Canaanites to finally and fully inhabit the land God had promised them. As they fought, the Lord delivered their enemies into their hands in convincing fashion. But the problem was that as they defeated people groups, they did not drive those peoples out completely. Scripture says: 

• But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in their land. -Judges 1:27
• Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live there among them. -Judges 1:29
• Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol…. -Judges 1:30
• Nor did Asher drive out those living in Akko or Sidon or Ahlab or Akzib or Helbah or Aphek or Rehob. -Judges 1:31
• Neither did Naphtali drive out those living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath…. -Judges 1:33

In Judges 2, God expressed His disappointment with the people. God reminded the Israelites that He’d brought them to this land because he had promised to give it to them! (And them alone!) But instead, they had disobeyed Him and entered into living situations together with the enemy people. God knew this meant the Israelites would start worshiping their gods and following their sinful ways. 

And what do you know, that’s exactly what happened. As time passed, the Israelites copied the godless people more and more, and by the time Joshua’s entire generation had died, the Bible says:

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. -Judges 2:10-12

The first time I read this verse, I think I let out an audible gasp. This was the nation of Israel! …who had seen God bring them through the Red Sea! …who had seen God provide for them manna from Heaven to eat day after day in the wilderness! …who had seen God knock down the walls of Jericho with shouting, marching and music! …who had seen God defeat their enemies! And now, just one generation past the miraculous defeat of Jericho, nobody even knew God or what He had done for them. What a devastatingly dramatic turn of events. And what was the driving cause? The Israelites started imitating the people around them, and the people around them were not God-fearing people. 

Who is around you? Whether you realize it or not, you’re likely imitating the people you’re around. Maybe in small ways, like sending formal emails, or maybe in bigger ways, like matching another person’s gossiping habits or ungrateful complaining habits or foul language habits. Are your friends plugged into a small community group of believers? Are they faithful Sunday worshipers? Are they seeking to honor God in their daily lives? If not, will you pray about whether or not they’re the best friends for you? 

Whether consciously or unconsciously, we all imitate the people around us to a certain extent. Even if it’s just in small ways, small ways added up, year after year, took an entire generation away from the Lord when the Israelites failed to completely claim their promised land and live surrounded by people who worshiped the one true God. That being said, I want to make sure I’m around people who love Jesus and prioritize Him above all else. The more time I spend imitating people who are following Jesus, the closer I get to imitating Christ Himself, and being like Christ a little more each day is exactly what I long to do.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children. -Ephesians 5:1