I have been reading in the book of Deuteronomy and came to a
part where the Lord is telling the Israelites that they will win the battles
for all the towns of other peoples. He commands them to not take any prisoners
and take none of the gold or silver. The first time I read this many years ago I
was taken aback by what seemed so harsh and uncompassionate a command from God
as to kill everyone and take no prisoners. Most of us would ask why? In reading
it again, I was struck this time by how impossible a command that is. God was
asking that each man that went into battle kill every person man, women or
child. They had to do this as a community which means every one of them had to
be on board with this. I think it is a demonstration of how impossible it is on
our own to do what God asks us. At this time, the people did not have the Holy
Spirit within them. The power of the Holy Spirit is what gives us the ability
to overcome and do what is impossible to do on our own, obey God.
Deuteronomy 7:2 ---and when the Lord your God has delivered
them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them
totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.
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