BY:OBOURBA.
In response to Kwaku Ba’s articles of 17/09/10 and 5/10/10.
THE EXTERMINATION OF THE CANAANITES AND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JEHOVAH.
When the Israelites were camped on the east bank of the Jordan, ready to cross over and take the land promised, God instructed them.”But of the Cities of these peoples, that JEHOVAH thy GOD giveth thee for an in heritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breadtheth, but thou shalt utterly destroy them……as Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee ,that they teach you not to do after all their abominations…….so would you sin against Jehovah your God”(DEUT 20:16-18).
An often heard assertion of the infidel is that Jehovah could not be a totally benevolent God, one of love and mercy, and at the same time order the annihilation of the Canaanite Nations. They go even farther and equate the God of the Bible with murderous tyrants such as HITLER, STALIN, and MAO who committed genocide. Some of them attempt to make a distinction between the “cruel” God of the Old Testament and the God of love of the gospels, as though they were two different beings.. Their conclusion is that a God who would order the extermination of a nation is not worthy of adoration. Of course their real purpose is to discredit the God of the Bible and the religious system that worships HIM. Really this assault is not new, for the Gnostics of the second and third centuries held the same view( See ROBERT MILLIGAN SCHEME OF REDEMPTION p194).
When Christians meet such challenges to their faith they’re often shaken, not knowing how to respond to the charge. Every Christian should be able to give an answer to this blasphemous indictment(1PETER 3:15).The Ten reasons given below provide a scriptural and logic vindication of God’s actions in dealing with the Canaanites.
1)We must remember that God is not only benevolent, HE is also just.”His work is perfect; for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity. Just and right is he”(DEUT 32:4). Justice requires that sin be punished. The wages of sin is death(ROM 6:23). This same attribute of justice required that HE severely punish His own chosen nation of Israel when they sinned(LEV 18:26-29)
2) The Canaanites were punished because of their own sins, not just because of a whim of an unhappy God.”The land is defiled, therefore, I do visit the iniquity, thereof upon it, and the land vomiteth out her inhabitants”(LEV 18:25).They had filled their cup of iniquity and their judgment had come……(GEN 15:16, REV 17:4). The Canaanites were given four hundred and fifty years(450 yrs) to repent of their sins but they failed.
3)God, being the creator and sustainer of life, has the right to destroy these of His creatures that rebel and defile themselves and dishonor their creator. This is illustrated in JEREMIAH 18 when the prophet observed a lesson in the actions of the potter making a vessel on the wheel. When it marred in his hand “ He made it again another vessel as seemed good to the potter. So God does with nations(JEREMIAH 18:4-12).
4) The LORD had the total good of the total race in mind in this judgment. A Doctor is not cruel who removes a cancerous growth from a body to spare the whole body from infection and death. Nor is God cruel when he removes and destroys a fatally diseased society of people, who if left alone, would corrupt many others.
5)IT was necessary for God to cleanse the land to protect the chosen nation from the moral and spiritual corruption of idolatry in order to preserve a fit environment from which MESSIAH could spring.” Thou shalt drive them out before thee. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in the land, lest they make thee sin against me., for thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee” (EXODUS 23:31b-33).
6) Infants who died were saved by HIS mercy, whereas, if left in that sinful environment, they would have grown up into idolatry and condemnation. Only the soul that sins is held morally responsible in eternity(EZEKIEL 18:20).
7) Arrangements were made for sparing of any righteous souls who wished to turn to the God of Abraham. See the case of RAHAB( JOSHUAH 6:17). Also leniency were offered to some of the tribes( DEUT 20:10-11).
8) This act of judgment demonstrated to the whole world the awful penalty for gross wickedness. Others could benefit from this, repent, and be spared. Thus it was a deterrent to other sinners.
9) The Canaanites had been exposed to the true knowledge of JEHOVAH and HIS righteousness in an earlier day. They had MELCHIZEDEK, Priest of God Most high, in their midst( GENESIS 14:18-19). Abraham. LOT, ISAAC, Jacob and the Patriarchs had lived among them for some 150 years. Their ancestors had known the traditions of God from the days of NOAH. They had witnessed the judgments upon SODOM and the Cities of the plain( GENESIS 19:24-29). They had consciences that cried out against their infractions of moral law (ROMANS 2:14-15). Like the gentiles of Romans chapter 1, they had refused to have God in their knowledge, therefore God had given them up to destroy themselves(ROMANS 1:21-28). With the knowledge of God that could be deduced from nature, they were “without excuse” for their idolatry and abominable sins.
10) The LORD, in his goodness had spared those nations 450 years because their situations was not sufficiently wicked to warrant expulsion from their land(GENESIS 15:16).
God, with infinite wisdom, purity and justice is able to decree an act of severe judgment upon a whole nation such as we have seen. No man has the totality of knowledge to make such an awesome decision. One little point overlooked might change the whole picture. Nor has any man the total sense of fairness and justice and the moral purity to pass such judgments on his fellow man. Man is so easily prejudiced by many factors that he should never attempt such a decision. HITLER and STALIN were more evil than the people they exterminated. They killed for selfish motives. They destroyed people who were trying to do their best. No such charge can be leveled against JEHOVAH and his judgments on the disobedient and rebellious. We need not give place to the infidel who blasphemes our God. Is there unrighteousness with God ?.With the Apostle PAUL we cry out “GOD FORBID”. There is no iniquity with the LORD our GOD, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts( 2 CHRONICLES 19:7). The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether(PSALMS 19:9).
Let the Bible speak and we (CHRISTIANS) will better understand it.
To God be the glory.
By: Obourba Asante Taado.
