Blood, covenant, judgment and war are topics, today, along with more on the meaning of childlike faith. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “SIMON” (Level 3 with 1,631 points, a member since January 11, 2012) posted the following:
Why did the Judges have to fight the Canaanites ?
Was it Joshua Ch24;vs1 and what significance does Exodus Ch33;vs20 have on mental health ?
THE BATTLE AXE: Childlike Faith (10/18/2012)—Christian believers are often spoken of as if they were children. For example, the broad dependence of children upon adults for health, nourishment, protection and shelter is used to depict rebirth, redemption and salvation. Believers are sons and daughters of GOD, the children of GOD, through adoption of the Holy Spirit. As such, their legitimacy may not be challenged or questioned, they have legal standing, and they must answer to various levels of limited accountability. Language is used whereby the operation of divine grace is spoken of as a free gift, an inheritance, and as unearned reward. Also, being “children” the people of GOD are described as forward-looking, (having expectation, futurity, hope, and joy), and as teachable. All continually receive chastisement and correction, and routinely display gratitude, humility, obedience, patience, unity, and zeal. Dead to sin, yet alive to GOD through Jesus Christ, believers are also spoken of as new creatures, because they continually experience the things of GOD having a sense of amazement, awe, newness and wonder.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven, A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak! Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD. (Deuteronomy 9: 1-7, King James Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The First Jews (02/20/2012); The Cause of Unrest? (01/30/2012); The Need For GOD (01/31/2012); Dispatch 29: More (09/08/2011); Dispatch 4: Weapons (Man of War) 08/12/2011
Be encouraged as you consider the following ideas shared among Christian believers as sacred history; many important points must come into view:
The people living in the “promised land” before the tribes of Jacob came out of Egypt had been able to prosper for hundreds of years and become great nations, because they were favored by Almighty GOD through covenant. The seven nations (the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites) did not maintain right relationship with the covenant-making GOD; and defiled the land by worshiping idols, and shedding human blood. Cleansing and restoration of the land would require the blood from those who had shed blood be soaked into the soil. Also, the sacred purposes of GOD would require that another people be chosen to inhabit the land.
The twelve tribes, and many of the mixed multitude who followed Moses, had undergone transformation from a pastoral people, whose major vocation was herding and keeping livestock, to being subservient in the economy of Egypt as construction laborers. GOD would carry them further to become an independent people, and an army of GOD—not for conquest and warfare—for execution of divine judgment. Like many, today, the Canaanites were so turned away from GOD, that the will of the Creator could only be established among them through death and violence.
As always, the issues of divine judgment go beyond punishing “bad behavior” and naughtiness. The divinity, integrity and righteousness of GOD are in question along with the possibilities for relationship, revelation, trust and truth. Fulfillment of a commission to remove the Canaanites from the promised land was to be “an evidence of things unseen” that would impress the hearts and minds of all mankind. Assurance, certainty and confidence were to be imparted that Israel would continue as the people of divine covenant.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, GOD is a spirit, yet we speak of Almighty GOD as if divinity can be known using the things of our carnal, material and social reality. At best the things of our physical world only suggests truth that must be confirmed by the spirit existing within each person. Jesus Christ may be thought of as a “bridge” whereby the divine and human spirits are re-connected, and the provider of a covenant from GOD that embraces his redeemed believers and followers.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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