Joshua 10:20–23 (ESV) — 20 When Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished
striking them with a great blow until they were wiped out, and when the remnant
that remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, 21 then all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah.
Not a man moved his tongue against any of the people of Israel.
22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five
kings out to me from the cave.” 23 And they did so,
and brought those five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem,
the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of
Eglon.
Joshua 10:26 (ESV) — 26 And afterward Joshua struck them and put them to
death, and he hanged them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until
evening.
Joshua 10:28 (ESV) — 28 As for Makkedah, Joshua captured it on that day and
struck it, and its king, with the edge of the sword. He devoted to destruction
every person in it; he left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah
just as he had done to the king of Jericho.
NOTE: What is not understood in this narratives in
which scoffers and atheists use to attack the concept of the OT God, is that
God is a God of justice. The land of Canaan was given over 400 years to repent
of their sin. Instead of seeking God, they engaged in activities that were
immoral and evil. So, God destroys what he created. First, he had a right, and
two, he had a reason (although the second reason is not required by a creator).
Technically he could do that to all people at any time (since all of us are
guilty of sin). If he doesn't, that is his choice. We can call that mercy, but
he is not required to act merciful. The only decent argument someone might make
would be in regard to the children, but that makes three assumptions that the
arguer cannot prove. First, life here on earth is the greatest gift, and the
loss of life for no reason is unfair. Second, there is no life after this life.
Third, if there is life after this life it pales in comparison to this life.
Considering the fact that before men were judged to die (Eden), this planet
earth was God's idea of heaven (relationships, fulfilling work, purpose,
knowledge of God, etc.,), the third reason is faulty. The first and second arguments come down to
much more difficult questions. Are we here by accident or is there an
intelligent first cause? Personally, an intelligent first cause, as revealed in
the scriptures negates the first and second arguments. Ultimately, we all live
by faith since science has not proved that life is by accident. They have
proposed a life by accident, but even their theory wouldn't negate God. And
they have many holes in their theory. So many, that they have created a theory
called "multiverse" which postulates an infinite number of universes
so that they can explain why so many cosmological constants are finely tuned in
order for life to exist. That sounds like God to me. But to each faith is
required. But what does the passage teach me? I exist because of God's mercy
and the grace that was shown me when Jesus died in my place for my sins. I
deserve to die just like the five kings, but by grace I have life, in fact
something much more important than life, I have eternal life.
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