According to the Bible, God tells the people of Israel to utterly destroy the Canaanites. All of them: Men, women, children, infants, animals. Not only are they to be killed, they are to be shown no mercy. More than showing no mercy, they are to be cherem - set apart - for destruction. This, from the lips of a God who is “slow to anger” and “abounding in mercy.” Even giving a moment’s thought to this is enough to make one’s stomach turn. It’s genocide, there’s no getting around that, and apparently God commands his nation of priests to carry this out on the cities, towns and villages in the land they are going to take over.
Some defend this command, believing God is just so whatever God says to do, you do. No questions asked. I mean, who are we to question God? Those who think this way argue the Canaanites were the most horrible people living in the Ancient Near Eastern World. However, the Canaanites were no better or worse than anyone else living back then. The only difference between them and, say, the Assyrians is they lived in the wrong place. They lived in a land that Israel wanted and the way to get it was to wipe them out.
This story and these words echo the words of a King of Moab in the 9th Century B.C. named Mesha. In other words, this kind of violence was not original with the people of Israel. ANE tribes often praised their gods by attributing gross violence to them, and then, after the battle, gave them glory for their victory. The gods were violent warriors who looked out for their people, and were ready to destroy anyone (and in this case everyone) else. Let’s not forget Israel was immersed in this culture, and to a certain extent participated in it. So, what do we do with these stories? The simple answer is “engage them” for what they are. That being a record of people’s conversations about God, how they understand God and what we can learn from that.
December 5, 2021: Quid Pro Quo - Bekah Stewart
November 28, 2021: These Belong to You - Michael Hidalgo
November 21, 2021: Look On The Inside - Michael Hidalgo
November 14, 2021: No Ear, No Job - Amanda Lum
November 7, 2021: The One About Selling Everything - Maggie Knight
October 31, 2021 - Less is the New More - Michael Hidalgo
October 24, 2021: On Not Getting It Sorted - Bekah Stewart
October 17, 2021: What Are You Talking About? - Michael Hidalgo
October 10, 2021: A Sacred Presence - Michael Hidalgo
October 3, 2021: There Are Only Participants - Michael Hidalgo
September 26, 2021: This is For Everyone - Michael Hidalgo
September 19, 2021: No One Said It Would Be Easy - Dave Neuhausel
September 12, 2021: Are You Actually Happy? - Michael Hidalgo
September 5, 2021: What Do YOU Mean? - Amanda Lum
August 29, 2021: Setting Forth - Michael Hidalgo
August 15, 2021: With Jesus - Kay Morrison
August 8, 2021: Shift Happens - Bekah Stewart
August 1, 2021: I Am Your Shield - Amanda Lum
July 25, 2021: A Life Entrusted - Landon Lynch
July 18, 2021: Remember Who You Are - Ryan Taylor
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