Judges 1: 12 They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshipped various gods of the peoples around them.

God commanded the Israelites to drive away those who lived in the promised land before they settled there but they did not obey God. The Israelites allowed the enemy nations to continue living there with them. Eventually they began to worship the gods of the neighbors because their religion appeared more attractive with more external rituals and offered short-range fulfillment. Only when religion demands change of attitude and priorities it becomes unpalatable. The rich man in the Bible who wanted to taste the kingdom of God left Jesus as soon as Jesus asked him to sell what he had and give it to the poor. In the neighbourhood, sacrifice of animals was accepted and encouraged but sacrifice of self was not advocated. Therefore it was an easy religion which allowed status-quo to continue. Further, participation in their religious rites endeared the Israelites to their neighbours and so they slipped into idolatry. Relationships can entangle many, making them fall into sinful acts but when priorities are clear, such pitfalls can be avoided.