SCRIPTURE: Joshua 11
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
For it was the LORD himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses. [Joshua 11:20] The reason why everyone was slaughtered was because the Lord wanted them destroyed. Joshua was following orders. God’s critics have every right to accuse God of being behind the slaughter in Canaan. And God’s followers have to accept it, it’s part of the God-story whether we like it or not. Yes, the God of the bible was behind the complete destruction of the people of Canaan.

How does this fit with the ‘God is love’ idea? Is there any way to harmonize these things? I think the first thing we need to remember is that God is God, and He doesn’t need to defend Himself before us. Are we going to judge God, do we have what it takes to render a fair verdict? But second, we also need to consider the possibility that this extermination does fit with the idea that God is love, that it was necessary for God to save the world. Is it possible – as hard as it may be to swallow – that it was better for the world that the people be slaughtered? It is possible!

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. [Luke 4:33-35] The demon knew that God’s plan is to destroy the power of sin, death and hell. Evil, like an infestation of poisonous spiders, must be exterminated. Sin, like a cancerous growth, must be attached with radiation. Extreme, but necessary. Why? Because the result of not dealing with the sin is worse than dealing with it.

Do we see our world as infested with evil, sick with a terminal disease? Do we see the plight of people as urgent, life and death? Do we recognize the danger of sin, Satan, death and hell? We live and act as if the problem is not that serious. This world is demon-possessed; we are sick and dying with sin. We need radical surgery, extreme therapy! God would not be a God of love unless He dealt with sin seriously. Think about how Jesus died, this is how serious sin is. And how far the God of love must go to rescue this world!

PRAYER:
Lord, I hate the thought of the slaughter of Canaan. But I also hate the thought of sin, death and hell. Help me to appreciate how serious the situation is, and how serious the solution must be.