Why did God.....
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Things to consider
1) Before God would judge a nation - he would warn them to turn from their ways-- give them time to repent. If they persisted.. they had no excuse-- God was perfectly clear what would happen to them if they didn't turn.
2) Culture- there were things people were doing that were ungodly acts- but God would tolerate these ways because they may be faithful in other areas.. eg.. David had a problem with lusting after women but was very faithful in other areas. Some people had many wives as part of their culture- but may have ruled their kingdom in a Godly way aside from that.
3) Often the battles that went on in the OT-- the wars were men fighting men-- women and children (correct me if I am wrong) weren't part of it.
4) Other means of resolving issues were explored often before going into battle. Along with God warning people, there were other things going on which people were doing to try and prevent war sometimes.
Anyway, as I typed before- God has the all encompassing past present and future view. His wisdom goes far far beyond ours. He can see where if one group is cut off.. other faithful groups survive where we can't.
How do you think He was able to time Jesus' birth, life and death as He did?
1) Before God would judge a nation - he would warn them to turn from their ways-- give them time to repent. If they persisted.. they had no excuse-- God was perfectly clear what would happen to them if they didn't turn.
2) Culture- there were things people were doing that were ungodly acts- but God would tolerate these ways because they may be faithful in other areas.. eg.. David had a problem with lusting after women but was very faithful in other areas. Some people had many wives as part of their culture- but may have ruled their kingdom in a Godly way aside from that.
3) Often the battles that went on in the OT-- the wars were men fighting men-- women and children (correct me if I am wrong) weren't part of it.
4) Other means of resolving issues were explored often before going into battle. Along with God warning people, there were other things going on which people were doing to try and prevent war sometimes.
Anyway, as I typed before- God has the all encompassing past present and future view. His wisdom goes far far beyond ours. He can see where if one group is cut off.. other faithful groups survive where we can't.
How do you think He was able to time Jesus' birth, life and death as He did?
Please grab your Bible and pay attention here. When you read Bible passages I share here, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and show you 'what lies beneath' the words on the Pages. Two leading reasons God led or justified things in the past He wouldn't <seem to> justify today:
1. Firstly, to mete out judgment is still God's Nature, therefore, He still does it. God's judgments are not past tense, not even in this age of Grace. Knowing that debates would rise about an OT 'judgmental God' vs. an NT 'gracious God', God gave us the story of Ananias and Sapphira at the very beginning of the Church age of Grace. (Read Acts 5:1-11.) There, a husband and wife died separately (which equals not just two deaths but two instances of judgment with death). This couple committed no extravagant sin in the least; not even close. But God, protecting sheep who were vulnerable to the smallest bit of leaven, killed this couple dead. The obvious question now is "Why doesn't God judge people this way since that time in the NT?" God is. He never changes; it is because of the changes or lack of change in us that we see little of both the kindness and severity of God today. In other words, if right this instant just one group of Christians (small or large) again allowed the Holy Spirit to enter and preside over affairs among them and a wolf in sheep's clothing tried to attach himself to that group of Christians with ill intentions, you will see God's judgments of various kinds (whether repentance, exposure and ejection, sickness, or death) come against those wolves for the sake of the sheep. You can count on it (take that one to the bank). Rules change drastically when God is allowed rulership in any circumstance, home, business, or church.
2. Secondly, God knows that the Fall made us fall also in intelligence and self-control. The Bible says God's ways are far above ours. This is true in far more ways than just a few. God allowed, led, and justified things in the past that He <seemingly> doesn't justify today because He knew that the Fall made us... inferior-minded. We were bent to sin, and if He punished us according to our sins, He would have to wipe everyone off this planet time and time again. (Read Ps. 103:11-14.) Jesus' response concerning divorce is the perfect answer as to why God allows or justifies (seemingly) things in the past that He <seemingly> would not justify or allow today. Jesus said Moses permitted divorce "because of the hardness of your hearts". (Read Num. 22 and Matt. 19:1-10 to see how God 'tweaks rules' because of man's fallen inferior state of mind. After Jesus shared God's concessions, He doubled back and reminded the people of God's perfect will which we are not able to keep and therefore the concessions.) "Hardness of heart" is not just stubbornness. It also means 'bull-headedness' which is talking about an animal-type state of mind rather than human. God allowed divorce, polygamy, marriage to underage kids, slavery, racism, and all kinds of evil and injustice, because if He meted out judgment for these things, there would be no man left on earth. "Because of the hardness of your hearts" also means "because your heart is bent toward (must commit) evil". If a holy God was to 'contend' with people who must commit sin, we'd all be dead.
1. Firstly, to mete out judgment is still God's Nature, therefore, He still does it. God's judgments are not past tense, not even in this age of Grace. Knowing that debates would rise about an OT 'judgmental God' vs. an NT 'gracious God', God gave us the story of Ananias and Sapphira at the very beginning of the Church age of Grace. (Read Acts 5:1-11.) There, a husband and wife died separately (which equals not just two deaths but two instances of judgment with death). This couple committed no extravagant sin in the least; not even close. But God, protecting sheep who were vulnerable to the smallest bit of leaven, killed this couple dead. The obvious question now is "Why doesn't God judge people this way since that time in the NT?" God is. He never changes; it is because of the changes or lack of change in us that we see little of both the kindness and severity of God today. In other words, if right this instant just one group of Christians (small or large) again allowed the Holy Spirit to enter and preside over affairs among them and a wolf in sheep's clothing tried to attach himself to that group of Christians with ill intentions, you will see God's judgments of various kinds (whether repentance, exposure and ejection, sickness, or death) come against those wolves for the sake of the sheep. You can count on it (take that one to the bank). Rules change drastically when God is allowed rulership in any circumstance, home, business, or church.
2. Secondly, God knows that the Fall made us fall also in intelligence and self-control. The Bible says God's ways are far above ours. This is true in far more ways than just a few. God allowed, led, and justified things in the past that He <seemingly> doesn't justify today because He knew that the Fall made us... inferior-minded. We were bent to sin, and if He punished us according to our sins, He would have to wipe everyone off this planet time and time again. (Read Ps. 103:11-14.) Jesus' response concerning divorce is the perfect answer as to why God allows or justifies (seemingly) things in the past that He <seemingly> would not justify or allow today. Jesus said Moses permitted divorce "because of the hardness of your hearts". (Read Num. 22 and Matt. 19:1-10 to see how God 'tweaks rules' because of man's fallen inferior state of mind. After Jesus shared God's concessions, He doubled back and reminded the people of God's perfect will which we are not able to keep and therefore the concessions.) "Hardness of heart" is not just stubbornness. It also means 'bull-headedness' which is talking about an animal-type state of mind rather than human. God allowed divorce, polygamy, marriage to underage kids, slavery, racism, and all kinds of evil and injustice, because if He meted out judgment for these things, there would be no man left on earth. "Because of the hardness of your hearts" also means "because your heart is bent toward (must commit) evil". If a holy God was to 'contend' with people who must commit sin, we'd all be dead.
No, God never changes. And it's not so much one 'no' at a time (maybe you have to explain what you mean); it's about God getting down and meeting us where we are:
"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. As they called them, they went from them, sacrificing to the Baals... It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of Love. And I was to them as one who takes the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them" (Hos. 11:1-4).
The more God reached out to Israel, the more they sinned. And even though God "taught them to walk" (i.e. He raised them like a parent raises a child), they did not know that He healed them (they were so bent toward sin and rebellion that they forgot and didn't acknowledge that God was their Shepherd and Provide-- their Healer and the reason they were still alive). He continued to extend Grace in every way, because if He dealt with them as their sins deserved, He would have destroyed them all (as He almost did several times): "He has not dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities... For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust" (Ps. 103:10, 14). Right now, He deals with humans according to Grace; at the judgment, He will deal with us all according to truth.
He came down in the Garden, and after the Fall He continued to meet us where we are. If we can't help but sin, He will have to meet us there which is one of the main reasons He allows even the most evil people to continue to be evil (if it is who they are and they don't know better): "Where sin abounded, Grace abounded much more" (Rom. 5:20). He gives us more Grace, because we are bent toward disobedience and so judgment: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us... full of Grace and truth... And of His fullness [of both Grace and truth] have we all received, and Grace upon Grace" (Jn. 1:14, 16). Full of both Grace and truth, He extends more Grace to us, because without more Grace than truth, we'd all be condemned. While we're immature, it is much more Grace than truth for us; but as we grow in truth, then He can deal with us more from the aspect of truth (justice, judgment, etc.).
Most people don't want to grow up, so God has set specific times when He says people must repent or face judgment: "These times of ignorance God winked on but now commands men everywhere to repent, because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness (according to truth, not Grace)" (Acts 17:30-31). Basically, get Grace upon Grace now while it's available, because judgment is not based on Grace but on truth. Meanwhile, God will deal with us according to how low we've fallen and will continue to work on bringing us back up to mature status (and therefore preserve many from judgment).
"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. As they called them, they went from them, sacrificing to the Baals... It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of Love. And I was to them as one who takes the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them" (Hos. 11:1-4).
The more God reached out to Israel, the more they sinned. And even though God "taught them to walk" (i.e. He raised them like a parent raises a child), they did not know that He healed them (they were so bent toward sin and rebellion that they forgot and didn't acknowledge that God was their Shepherd and Provide-- their Healer and the reason they were still alive). He continued to extend Grace in every way, because if He dealt with them as their sins deserved, He would have destroyed them all (as He almost did several times): "He has not dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities... For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust" (Ps. 103:10, 14). Right now, He deals with humans according to Grace; at the judgment, He will deal with us all according to truth.
He came down in the Garden, and after the Fall He continued to meet us where we are. If we can't help but sin, He will have to meet us there which is one of the main reasons He allows even the most evil people to continue to be evil (if it is who they are and they don't know better): "Where sin abounded, Grace abounded much more" (Rom. 5:20). He gives us more Grace, because we are bent toward disobedience and so judgment: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us... full of Grace and truth... And of His fullness [of both Grace and truth] have we all received, and Grace upon Grace" (Jn. 1:14, 16). Full of both Grace and truth, He extends more Grace to us, because without more Grace than truth, we'd all be condemned. While we're immature, it is much more Grace than truth for us; but as we grow in truth, then He can deal with us more from the aspect of truth (justice, judgment, etc.).
Most people don't want to grow up, so God has set specific times when He says people must repent or face judgment: "These times of ignorance God winked on but now commands men everywhere to repent, because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness (according to truth, not Grace)" (Acts 17:30-31). Basically, get Grace upon Grace now while it's available, because judgment is not based on Grace but on truth. Meanwhile, God will deal with us according to how low we've fallen and will continue to work on bringing us back up to mature status (and therefore preserve many from judgment).
E
Actually GOD does not tolerate such sins. HE gives humans the freedom of choice which we know as freewill. Adam was made perfect and made his perfect choice to sin against GOD therefore his children would inherit this sin nature. GOD's LOVE for HIS creation allowed HIM to offer HIS SON to be a Living Sacrifice for those who accept HIM(JESUS). So HE does not tolerate sin HE made a way out, escape from HIS Wrath.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessings!!!!!!!
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessings!!!!!!!
T
God's Law was definitely in place in some form by the time of Abraham. I've read a book called "Faith of Our Fathers: God in Ancient China". It proposes the belief (and there is much evidence) that the ancient Chinese not only knew of the one True God that they worshipped him, then sadly later turned to Daoism etc. In early Chinese culture there was a sin offering (the Border Sacrifice) performed by the Emperor to Shang-Di (the one True God) that's akin to the sacrifices described by Moses in the book of Leviticus. This began long before Moses was even born; before even Abraham's time! Some family groups who departed from Babel, after the dispersal there, journeyed east and eventually settled in what became known as China (God's Country). Either God revealed His Law to the prior to this (and that's certainly possible) or He revealed His Law to them not long after the dispersal. It's fascinating!
T
My review for "Faith of Our Fathers: God in Ancient China".
Post #79
http://christianchat.com/christian-singles-forum/85529-literary-corner-4.html
Post #79
http://christianchat.com/christian-singles-forum/85529-literary-corner-4.html
It is very egocentric to read back into the past and judge a culture from 3500 years the future.
Imagine the huge changes that would happen in our future, if The Lord tarried! From the Bronze Age to the digital age, I can't fathom what moral, scientific and cultural changes that would occur in another 3500 years. The stuff of Sci Fi novels.
Hermeneutics, or Bible interpretation requires you take these cultures into account when reading the Bible. Since we know very little of tribes like the Amalekites or the Juebusites, we simply cannot judge God's actions, because we do not know how wicked day, the Canaanites were, that God required hem to be wiped out.
Therefore, this entire thread is moot and invalid, without extensive and scholarly investigations, not just people trading opinions, as usual?
Imagine the huge changes that would happen in our future, if The Lord tarried! From the Bronze Age to the digital age, I can't fathom what moral, scientific and cultural changes that would occur in another 3500 years. The stuff of Sci Fi novels.
Hermeneutics, or Bible interpretation requires you take these cultures into account when reading the Bible. Since we know very little of tribes like the Amalekites or the Juebusites, we simply cannot judge God's actions, because we do not know how wicked day, the Canaanites were, that God required hem to be wiped out.
Therefore, this entire thread is moot and invalid, without extensive and scholarly investigations, not just people trading opinions, as usual?
Do you know that it is even more egocentric to accuse a person without any basis. My goodness, you did not even read the OP. You did not even know that God's actions on Amalekites or on anybody else is not being questioned. The real query is why is it no longer happening? Or Maybe you just want to tell everybody that you did a "scholarly investigations" on Canaanites , Amalekites and Jebusites. Okay, then good on you.
Well, well, "as usual", another burn out from debates. But sorry, no debates here. Find it somewhere else.
Well, well, "as usual", another burn out from debates. But sorry, no debates here. Find it somewhere else.
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