GOD created the army of Israel led by Joshua having more than 1/2 million men.
Today, reply addresses the revelation of GOD through continued ongoing judgment. One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality forum using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile data appears) posted the following:
Why did the God of the Bible wage war against the Canaanites?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God. And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. (Joshua 3: 9-11, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The First "Chosen" People (05/03/2018); A Holy Nation (02/20/2018); On Recognizing Divine Judgment (01/24/2018); Of War and Judgment (10/08/2013); Heart, Brain or Spirit? (10/09/2013); Moses Killed? (09/23/2013); Salted with Fire? (09/24/2013); What is Worship? (10/18/2010)
“Anonymous”, here are some points that many mature Christian believers are careful to consider:
(1.) The Creator who uses divine law and judgment to establish mankind and the earth also has used condemnation and widespread destruction to express wrath against sin (e.g., Sodom and the cities of the plains). Along with displays of awesome authority and power against defiance and rebellion, through such men as Noah, GOD has revealed divinity is forbearing, forgiving, longsuffering, patient, and willing to bestow divine grace.
(2.) GOD first revealed himself to Moses in a way that indicated his dominion over the natural earth, and used the form of a burning bush whose flaming branches gave off no smoke and left no trace of ashes. Moses was instructed to acknowledge that he was on ground made holy by the divine presence. When Moses later asked to physically see the true image of divine fullness (we say, the GODhead; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit), GOD passed before Moses once the prophet was placed within a cleft of the rock. Displaying his deeds and the train that followed himself, GOD proclaimed that he is to be known, spoken of, and understood as a GOD of covenant, law, and judgment, who will punish the guilty, yet, will display mercy.
(3.) The ten plagues brought against Egypt were not mere demonstrations to intimidate the Egyptians, the surrounding nations, or the 12 tribes of Jacob. While the plagues were unleashed as an aspect of the deliverance of the twelve tribes, they were sacred events performed as judgments against Pharaoh, the Egyptian people, and the gods of Egypt.
(4.) The invasion by Jacob and plagues that accompanied them were fulfilling GOD's word of promise and prophecy to Abram, that he would judge against the seven tribes of Canaan who were in covenant with GOD, yet, continued to practice idolatry and sin. GOD would use his son (the tribes of Jacob) and the mixed multitude that left Egypt to remove the seven covenant-breaking tribes.
There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) Deuteronomy 7: 1-8, King James Version (KJV): 1 When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; 2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: 3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. 5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. 6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Washington, DC
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