Whenever those of us who love the Christian Scriptures begin to talk about God's mercy (God releasing us from what we deserve) and God's grace (God giving us what we don't deserve), invariably someone who has read the Bible will ask, What about God commanding Israel to wipe out the nations (including women and children) when they conquered the land of Palestine? (cf. Book of Joshua)
How is that a God of mercy and grace?
It's a very fair question. If we insist (as we do) that "All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, etc." (2 Timothy 3:16)...and if we insist (as we do) that Scripture is God's self-revelation -- giving us insight into who He is that general revelation (i.e., creation) does not give -- then we should think this through.
Genocide is a tough charge to lay at a merciful God's doorstep.
So, let's be frank and straightforward about what we find in the Bible, and in the Old Testament specifically.
First, Scripture reveals that God has revealed Himself and His righteousness to humanity -- giving ample evidence that He exists, that He is powerful and divine. According to Romans 1:18-20, the fitting response to that revelation is "thankfulness" and an acknowledgement that we, as human beings, are dependent upon the uncreated God who is the cause behind and power in Creation.
Second, Scripture goes on to reveal that very often -- VERY often -- in the history of humanity, collections of human beings have rejected the truth God has given them and turned to endless expressions of idolatrous worship, which has often led to grotesque sinfulness and debauchery. Romans 1:21-32 describes a downward spiraling into sin which is "worthy of death" (vs. 32). Romans 1:20b says it succinctly, "They are without excuse."
Third, the history recorded in the Old Testament demonstrates that God does not immediately judge cultures and nations of people who head down this path. He is patient, and often sends them godly messengers who know God, live for God, and warn of pending judgment. VERY often, these messengers are rebuffed and rejected, along with their repeated warnings. As Peter says even about our present day, "God is patient, not willing that any should perish"(2 Peter 3:9). But Peter goes on to say, "The day of the Lord will come." Divine patience (God's mercy and grace) has its season, but that season comes to an end.
Fourth, this is precisely what you see often in the Old Testament. Noah and sons spent 120 years building an ark, and preaching "righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5) to his violent, sinful generation of humanity. Time was given to repent, but the time came to a close with the shutting of the door on the ark.
THE 7 NATIONS OF PALESTINE (1400 BC)
So what about those nations of peoples (7 of them) who occupied Palestine when God led His people in under Joshua? Joshua and the armies of Israel were to leave nothing breathing in their conquering of land promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants. Did God give these peoples sufficient warning? A chance to live?
Over 400 years earlier, Abraham himself was told what would happen, when his descendants would be released from slavery and be led back to their land. "They shall come back here," Abraham was told, "in the 4th generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete" (Genesis 15:16).
What does that mean? It means that God knew that the sinfulness and the debauchery of the Amorites (a collective title for the peoples living in Palestine while Israel was enslaved to Egypt) would progress, getting worse and worse. And it did. The nations in Palestine practice horrible worship practices, burning their children in fire to their gods, and many other unspeakable things. Over 500+ years, the debauchery of the peoples in that land multiplied, until it became "complete."
Thus when God wanted to send his redeemed people into the land promised to Abraham, He also wanted those sinful cultures to be (finally, and rightly) judged and taken out of the way. He had no interest in His people becoming like that. Sin was so imbedded in those ungodly cultures, and it was a Righteous God's right to finally judge. Joshua and the armies were to leave nothing breathing.
GOD'S MERCY - GOD'S JUDGMENT
In these difficult day of war and judgment, was there yet opportunity for mercy? Yes. Joshua's early chapters reveal that Rahab chose to believe in the God of Israel, and was spared. In fact Rahab became one of the women in the very line of the Messiah!
What we must realize is this. First, God is extraordinarily patient with men. He communicates who He is, sends His messengers, gives opportunity after opportunity. "Today is the day of salvation."
But second, God will also righteously judge. Read the Psalms! The Hebrew song writers worship God because "He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness"(cf. Psalm 98:7-9).
To our peril, we dismiss the portrait of a God who will judge after a day of mercy. It is time to be humble, and like Rahab, place our faith and lives in the hands of the God who has revealed himself to Israel, and through Jesus, to the world.
