Joshua 11-12 = today's thoughts

Joshua 11-12 = today's thoughts

 

One of the things that have always been difficult to understand was the sheer brutality with which the people of Israel conquered the Promised Land.  We know that the people who were living there had no chance; their leader’s hearts were hardened by God to want to wage war against Israel and in the end had no chance to defeat her.  While I don’t claim to understand God’s actions at times, I have to remind myself this was a different covenant.  Anything less than this would have been a contradiction of what God had promised, He specifically promised them this land.  It was a promise that had been made long ago and now it was coming to fruition.  In keeping this promise, he was also protecting his chosen people.  He knew how fickle their hearts were and how easy they turned away.  If those other people groups had been left in that region the Israelites would likely have turned from God faster and fallen into worshiping their Gods.  We already know of God’s jealous nature.  His promise was to protect and provide for his people, he knew that he could only do that if they are in right relationship with him, so he eliminated their distractions, their pitfalls.  He provided great resources to them through conquering their foes, he very quickly and firmly established them as a great nation. Once again, while in no way knowing the full mind of God, it sure looks this way to me.  While barbaric on one hand, quite loving on the other.  It also goes to demonstrate that God goes to every extreme to fulfill his promises to his people. These are tough verses to read if you only see God as a loving Grandfather sitting in heaven on a pure white throne.  While that aspect of God exists, it is not a full picture of God.  Another reason why scripture can’t be cherry picked and understood.  The whole of scripture is to help us have a full understanding and relationship with God.  While we won’t get it all we can’t even begin to truly know God if we don’t learn about who he is over all of time.

 

Have a great day.

Rob