Why kids?

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bonnie2

Guest
#1
#1
A question that has been bothering me is, why God told the Israelites in the book of Joshua to destroy all that breathed in these heathen nations. I understand about God's righteous wrath and judgment, but this destruction would have to include tiny infants and little kids. I have heard that if those kids did not die, they would have grown up in a heathen society but to be honest that does not totally satisfy me- if anyone knows anything that would reconcile God's love/ mercy to this I would appreciate it. I'd also like to know how to answer other people who ask me this (I've heard someone say that Jesus is not God because He is so completely different from the God of the O.T. in stories like this- I know that is not true but I had trouble knowing how to answer). Thanks!
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#2
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
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#2
bonnie2 said:
A question that has been bothering me is, why God told the Israelites in the book of Joshua to destroy all that breathed in these heathen nations. I understand about God's righteous wrath and judgment, but this destruction would have to include tiny infants and little kids. I have heard that if those kids did not die, they would have grown up in a heathen society but to be honest that does not totally satisfy me- if anyone knows anything that would reconcile God's love/ mercy to this I would appreciate it. I'd also like to know how to answer other people who ask me this (I've heard someone say that Jesus is not God because He is so completely different from the God of the O.T. in stories like this- I know that is not true but I had trouble knowing how to answer). Thanks!
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I believe that when we die, we pass on to the resurrection. Therefore, dying is not an awful thing.
 
S

Saint

Guest
#3
#3
Well, to add to what resurrection said, we are told that it is not physical death that we should worry about, but the second death, which is what those children faced when they grew up. And plus, what were they to do with the kids? keep them? I guess they could have, but the culture that those kids already had in them would have meshed into the isrealites' culture which could destroyed the rituals that were very important back then. And we all know what happens in the OT when the people stop obeying the rituals: famine, plague, losing to relatively small armies. In all honesty, though, this is all speculation. No one fully understands God, so no one can know how that was loving.
 
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Israel

Guest
#4
#4
bonnie2 said:
A question that has been bothering me is, why God told the Israelites in the book of Joshua to destroy all that breathed in these heathen nations. I understand about God's righteous wrath and judgment, but this destruction would have to include tiny infants and little kids. I have heard that if those kids did not die, they would have grown up in a heathen society but to be honest that does not totally satisfy me- if anyone knows anything that would reconcile God's love/ mercy to this I would appreciate it. I'd also like to know how to answer other people who ask me this (I've heard someone say that Jesus is not God because He is so completely different from the God of the O.T. in stories like this- I know that is not true but I had trouble knowing how to answer). Thanks!
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It was done for an example to show that under ther law, wrath is poured out.

Matthew 11:16-24

But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

17And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
19The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
23And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.


We see in this generation, both extremes from John to Jesus and everything in between them judged by the people. We also see some of these same example such as the one you listed in where people were killed. But Jesus says that in judgement, these people will fair better than those who have seen the works of Him. For if they had, these people would have repented.
 
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Ricke

Guest
#5
#5
The reason God wanted these Nations and cities taken out was he wanted The Children of Israel to possess all the land he gave them by his covenant with Abraham.

He did not want The children of Israel to pollute the bloodline he tried to establish by having others polluting that bloodline through inter marriage etc. That may sound hateful unto us, God did not want The Children to have any dealings with The Strangers in The Land he promised Abraham.

God wanted The Children of Israel to be a special treasure unto himself.

Deuteronomy 7 verses 5 to 7 " But this shall Ye deal with them; you shall destroy their altars, and break down their Images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven Images with fire.

For thou art a HOLY PEOPLE unto The Lord thy God, The Lord thy God has chosen thee to be a SPECIAL PEOPLE unto himself, above all the people that ate upon the face of the earth.

The Lord did not set his Love upon you, because YOU WERE MORE IN NUMBER then any people, for you were the FEWEST OF ALL PEOPLE."

Also read where Joshua and Israel took down Jericho, and ly Spared Rehab The Harlot and her family.(Joshua 6 v 24-26).
 
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charisenexcelcis

Guest
#6
#6
bonnie2 said:
A question that has been bothering me is, why God told the Israelites in the book of Joshua to destroy all that breathed in these heathen nations. I understand about God's righteous wrath and judgment, but this destruction would have to include tiny infants and little kids. I have heard that if those kids did not die, they would have grown up in a heathen society but to be honest that does not totally satisfy me- if anyone knows anything that would reconcile God's love/ mercy to this I would appreciate it. I'd also like to know how to answer other people who ask me this (I've heard someone say that Jesus is not God because He is so completely different from the God of the O.T. in stories like this- I know that is not true but I had trouble knowing how to answer). Thanks!
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The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament. For everyone and every human society and for the world itself there comes a harvest for good or evil. He loves and He doesn't want any to be lost, but He is just and knows when nothing more can be done.
One other thing, check out the actual times that God gave the order to annihilate. It is very few actually. Regarding Canaan, His primary method was to drive the heathen out ahead of Israel.
 
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bonnie2

Guest
#7
#7
Thanks for your replies everybody, they were helpful :)
 
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