But you shall utterly destroy them . . . so that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 20:17-18).
Joshua waged war a long time with all these kings. . . For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them . . . (Joshua 11:18,20).
The Hittite,
Amorite,
Canaanite,
Perizzite,
Hivite,
and Jebusite nations
ruled
beyond the Jordan.
God commanded Israel to destroy them
so they would not learn –
and then practice –
the wickedness
of their
child sacrifices,
sexual perversions
murders,
and unfettered violence.
And suffer the same consequences.
God hardened the nations
so they would meet Israel in battle.
And be destroyed.
But they did not know
they were being hardened
so God’s purpose would be served.
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Do our child sacrifices
(we call it ‘abortion’),
sexual perversions,
murders,
and violence,
make us as guilty as they?
And if God hardened them for judgment
and they did not know it,
is He hardening us for judgment
and we do not know it?
At what point should we all the more
beg God for mercy?
At what point is our point
of no return?
4 comments:
Ah Lord GOD, You are merciful. Have mercy on us and soften our hearts that we might not be destroyed. If we are to be destroyed, let the righteous among us be withdrawn before the cataclysm as was Lot. Let those be wiser than Lot.
Amen and amen.
Your post, Richard, is certainly something to reflect on. It gives me chills to think of this as reality and yet we must. We have to keep praying.
Andie
yes we have to keep praying . . . for ourselves. For the Church. For our families and neighbors and friends. Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it (Ps 127).
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