Read them in the archive below. See the Papyrus Chester Beatty III recto (BM10683) from about 1175 BC as referenced in Lise Manniche, For an example of how embarrassing and dangerous this could be, see Robert M. Yerkes, The Mind of the Gorilla: Part III. The peoples of the land did not repent, just as the survivors of God's plagues will not repent. Their task was to prepare the way for the arrival of the Messiah. 15:5). Probably the ultimate sexual depravity is intercourse with animals. This is an online Viewpoint articlefrom theChristian Research Journal. Robert has written 111 articles on What Christians Want To Know! If Jesus had died to redeem humankind prior to humankinds comprehending the depth of their sin, then people would question the need for Jesus death. They reason something along these lines: (1) Christians condemn genocide. Old Testament scholars Keil and Delitsch write that there can be no doubt that the idea which lay at the foundation of the ban was that of a compulsory dedication of something which resisted or impeded sanctification; . Killing of the Canaanites, Robert Driskell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Pastoral Ministries and Biblical Studies from Mid-America Christian University in 1995. Far be it from you! Atheists use this fact to condemn the character of God. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. (Deut. Stanley Gundry (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003), 173-74. One should note that Joshuas commands in Deuteronomy 23 are given before the Israelites have completed their sweep through the land, so of course there are Canaanites there to marry. They are all part of an inherently wicked culture that, if allowed to live, would morally and theologically pollute the people of Israel.[1]. He gave them the law so that they may know Him and His ways. 7 passage provides better support for his position. Because of that advance warning, it is possible that some people abandoned their cities. However, once the biblical doctrines of God and of sin are taken into consideration, the background scenery changes and the picture looks very different. In our pluralistic age, its easy to forget what an offense that is to the true God. Old Testament scholar Tremper Longman sees five phases of Yahweh war in the Bible. In Genesis 15:16, God told Abraham that his descendants would have to remain slaves in Egypt for 400 years before taking possession of Canaan, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. So God was patient in dealing with the Canaanite nations, waiting until they reached the point of no return. Rahab spoke of having heard about Israels great God and His mighty miracles. Scholar Glen Miller points out that dispossession words are used by a three-to-one margin over destruction words.{12}. Israel had been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. God, as judge, used Israel to carry out His judgment on these people. Real Questions. Skeptics often complain that children were killed in Sodom and Gomorrahs destruction. God promised Canaan to Abraham and his children. 1:5). But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap. All Rights Reserved. Israel was not commanded to deal with all other nations the same way they dealt with the Canaanites. It makes no sense to say that the erem laws are unjust unless there is an objective standard of justice to which they must conform. The phrase the Lords battles or battles of the Lord are found in 1 Sam. Isnt there an inconsistency here? This was especially true of the Canaanite societies steeped in abominable practices like child sacrifice and cult prostitution. They engaged in temple prostitution which was thought to be a re-enactment of the sexual unions of the gods and goddesses. Yahweh wars are battles recorded in Scripture that are prompted by God for His purposes and won by His power.{4}. Consequently, we love what He hates, and we hate what He loves. Many people take issue with the idea that God commanded the Jewish nation to initiate war against the Canaanites, ordering them to wipe them out and take their land for their own. If God was not behind the conquest of Canaan, then the Israelites were no different than the Nazis and the Hutus. To answer these questions, we must understand the place of the erem laws in the history of redemption.
Why Did God Command the Israelites to Destroy the Nations in the Land Will More People Go To Hell Than Go To Heaven?
This was Gods judgment carried out on the people of Canaan using the chosen people of Israel. No matter what explanation of the death of children is given, no one except the most cold hearted will find joy in it. On an individual basis, when a father sinned, his son wasnt to be punished for it. The Deut. Subsequently, God sent prophets to warn Israel of their coming destruction, but they didnt repent and God said that they became like Sodom to me and He visited destruction on Israel for committing the same sins. Israel was not allowed to treat other nations as they treated the Canaanite cities. Although no Scripture is definitive that all children will be saved, many Christians point out that it is possible (based on verses like Matthew 19:14). He gets no pleasure in the death of anyone. in Christian Thought (theology/philosophy of religion) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Master of Humanities (emphasis in philosophy) from the University of Dallas. This is an online articlefrom the Christian Research Journal. God had warned them against that (Deut. God waited to redeem humankind until they had the chance to be, as 2 Live Crew once put it, as nasty as they wanna be.. These people were not clueless about their responsibility to God; rather, they openly mocked His lordship and committed horrible acts that even the most hardened of us would deem worthy of judgment. Genocide doesn't wait for people to have a change of heart; and certainly not 400 years. When angels arrive, however, the men of the city try to rape them and not only does Lot not find anyone who will repent, Lot himself tarries so long that the angels take Lot and his family by the arms and all but drag them out of the city. ", Jesus Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?
Old Testament Mass Killings - bethinking.org Our enemies are the demonic forces that hold the world in captivity to sin, and our weapons are now prayer, preaching, and evangelism. The Canaanites, by contrast, were destroyed at the direction of God and primarily because of their sin. 1 (2008): 7-37; www.epsociety.org/library/articles.asp?pid=45. All rights reserved. He begins with the Christian worldview and Rick Wade explores the meaning of the word defense in 1 Peter 3:15, suggesting that all Christians can do Rick Wade provides an expanded discussion of the issues around the Israelites battles against the Canaanites. For God does not show favoritism. Copan, Yahweh Wars and the Canaanites. The new atheists call Gods commands to kill the Canaanites genocide, but a closer look at the horror of the Canaanites sinfulness, exhibited in rampant idolatry, incest, adultery, child sacrifice, homosexuality, and bestiality, reveals that Gods reason for commanding their death was not genocide but capital punishment. God gave us life, and He has the right to take it away. Women were no less guilty than men, and in many cases they were the principal instigators. Rick's interests focus on apologetics, Christianity and culture, and the changing currents in Western thought. This document is the sole property of Probe Ministries. The Canaanites were descendants of Noah. 7. Why didnt God just tell Israel; move in, settle down and coexist? Furthermore, justice must respond to the moral failure of sin. If He does not receive a proper response, He promises great tribulation and martyrdomnot necessarily as punishment, but as an inducement to repent. At first, the Israelites tried to compromise and worship God the way the Canaanites worshiped their gods. However, what is good and right or what is bad and wrong changes with societys opinions. But this is precisely the thing that the unbeliever loses in denying the existence of God. Heres why. Doesnt the new atheists complaint ring hollow, since they are often at the forefront of defending a womans right to suction, dismember, or scald to death her unborn baby at any time and for any reason? Going by this definition alone, the destruction of the Canaanites would seem to have been genocide. In phase four there was a major change. (972) 941-4565
In Leviticus 18 God then warns Israel that if they commit similar sins that the land would similarly vomit them out. Israel received direct word from God that they should do this. Isnt that a better alternative? Plano TX 75075
Gods character is such that He gives nations an appropriate amount of time to repent. And its not simply forced eviction we are talking about here; its the slaughter of entire nations, down to the last man, woman, and child. The object of warfare moves from the Canaanites, who are the object of Gods wrath for their sin, to the spiritual powers and principalities, and then finally to the utter destruction of all evil, human and spiritual.[2]. Ones background theological beliefs make a big difference in how one sees this.
Slaughter of the Canaanites | Reasonable Faith The Israelites intermarried with them which eventually drew Gods judgment on them as well. Nevertheless, those that choose to reject Gods love will be lost (2 Peter 3:7). So lets not kid ourselves: at the end of the day no amount of explanation will cause todays illuminati (or brights, as some new atheists like to be called) to consider Gods commands justified.36 But our job as Christians is to proclaim unambiguously, especially to strongholds set up against knowledge of God, that humankind is sinful, that the wages of sin is death, and that by trusting Christs sacrifice we can be saved from the wrath of God and enjoy resurrection life in and with Him forever. It was merciful for God to allow the Canaanites to remain in the land as long as they did. I want to look at some Biblical stories about God destroying nations.