Please explain an apparent contradiction

[Miss Molly]

I know there are many apparent contradictions in the Bible that are not contradictions at all once you study and research a little. However, I have a problem explaining to my unbelieving family why God tells the Israelites on more than one occasion to kill the inhabitants of the land He has promised to the Jews. This is in Exodus and Leviticus, just a few chapters after God gave the Jews the ten commandments.

It's difficult for me to explain why He would tell them to do such a thing. I can't use the argument "because God said so" or "because it's in the Bible" when my family does not believe in God let alone the authority of scripture. And when they can point to the commandment against murder and call the Bible in contradiction with itself - well, you get the picture!

Any help is appreciated and thank you all in advance...

[goinghome]

That's a tough one. Do they believe in God at all? If they do, then I would tell them that a command from God to go to war (killing inhabitants in order to take over the land) is different than an individual deciding to kill somebody on the basis of his own limited judgement.

If they don't believe in God, all I can come up with at first thought is that the things of God seem foolish to those who are perishing. It's the predicament of the whole world - - foolishness, ignorance of what is real and true.

[Mike]

Deut. 9
[3] Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
[4] Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.
[5] Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
[6] Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.That should be self explanatory, it is because of their wickedness.

[Timothy]

Throughout the Old Testment, God poured out his wrath and punishment physically. He did it himself, he did it through Israel, and even via angels. But in the present dispensation, God is withholding his wrath, though it has been fully revealed (i.e. Romans). When the dispensation of Grace closes with the rapture, God's prophetic plans will again resume, and with the eventual outpouring of his wrath undiluted.

[antitox]

God is much more aware than anyone in existence as to when something must be addressed. Here's an example:

(Gen 15:15) "As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."

This clues us in that God has a timetable before any nation reaches a turning point in corruption before He moves against them. God will not be without justification in anything He does. But I never expect any person unskilled in the bible to understand. Unread persons will almost never get the truth.

[Miss Molly]

Thanks, you guys! I guess using scripture to explain scripture applies here more than anything. If they are going to use a scripture from the Bible then I get to use one too!!! :aha

We were all raised Catholic in the '50's and turbulent '60's. So, we are a combination of being taught that ours is the only church and rebellious at the same time. I began to study the Bible in College and really ramped up that study in the last 10 years or so. So, I'd say most of my family will tell you they believe in God but in fact they believe in the religion of the Catholic Church. Does that make sense?

Timothy, I like your answer because you do NOT use scripture directly. They usually just roll their eyes when I reference Scripture...

[Kliska]

And, going to war against a nation at God's direct command would not have been considered murder. Keep in mind too, that those nations were extremely corrupt, depraved, and bloodthirsty. Here is a link with several more links will all kinds of information and arguments for this very thing you are talking about: http://www.tektonics.org/lp/outrage.html As always when I post a link from Tekton, I have to say that JP is off on a lot of his teachings about the end times, so just take the good and chuck the rest. ;) In that link there are hyperlinks to the Canaanite situation: http://www.christian-thinktank.com/qamorite.html and the Amalekites: http://www.christian-thinktank.com/rbutcher1.html by Glenn Miller. Pretty long, and detailed, but is what you are looking for I think.

In the end, it all boils down to, God is sovereign and He can indeed do and command what He wants; however, He is indeed a good God.

[merricat]

I know there are many apparent contradictions in the Bible that are not contradictions at all once you study and research a little. However, I have a problem explaining to my unbelieving family why God tells the Israelites on more than one occasion to kill the inhabitants of the land He has promised to the Jews. This is in Exodus and Leviticus, just a few chapters after God gave the Jews the ten commandments.

It's difficult for me to explain why He would tell them to do such a thing. I can't use the argument "because God said so" or "because it's in the Bible" when my family does not believe in God let alone the authority of scripture. And when they can point to the commandment against murder and call the Bible in contradiction with itself - well, you get the picture!

Any help is appreciated and thank you all in advance...


Three words...........JUSTICE, JUDGEMENT AND EQUITY (the habitation of His throne).

peace and love
Merricat