After reading the first few chapters of Deuteronomy, it’s understandable why many have a difficult time with Israel’s history, which describes total tribes being destroyed under God’s direction. Is our merciful God really capable of endorsing such wholesale slaughter?
A more thorough examination of the events, however, coupled with knowledge about the culture of ancient paganism, brings us to the conclusion that this destruction was sometimes warranted, but, of course, only under God’s close supervision.
Indeed, these actions were undoubtedly the most merciful option available at the time. The harsh brutality in these tribes would have been so severe that it was more humane to eliminate all its citizens, including women and children, the most vulnerable victims of their cruelty.
We discover the tribes were treated differently though. Under God’s instruction, some tribes were dealt with diplomatically (Deuteronomy 20:10, 11), and others were defeated without total eradication of their population. Only God could judge fairly the level of each tribes’ iniquity (Genesis 15:16), and how best to move forward with God’s plan for Israel.
We must put our trust in God’s goodness and mercy, despite these graphic and troubling, yet honest, reports of conquest, recorded by Moses. I hope you will continue your study of Deuteronomy, as currently outlined in our Sabbath School quarterly. https://absg.adventist.org/current-quarter
On the brink of His Second Coming, we are about to enter another Promised Land, a heavenly one. Seeing how God has operated in the past helps us understand what we are experiencing now. We, too, will encounter obstacles, fight battles of many kinds, and experience the final justice only God can bring.
Only by having a very close, loving relationship with God will we be able to process and navigate the tumultuous time of trouble ahead. He, too, has offered to fight our battles for us. We need to stand back and let God perform His miracles in His own time and way. He did just that for Moses and the Hebrews. He’ll do it once again for us.
