Joshua 11: Is a War Ever Holy?
The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain."
There is something irrational and even repulsive about a holy war. It harnesses all the best energies of religion for one of the ugliest acts of human nature. And yet anyone who reads the Bible cannot ignore the holy wars of the Old Testament. Furthermore, God's involvement raises unique questions. He personally orders the destruction of seven Canaanite nations, with no survivors. Why?
The Old Testament makes clear that the Canaanites were not being uprooted on a sudden whim. God had promised the land to the Israelites over 400 years before Joshua. He had called one man, Abraham, to found a nation of chosen people. He repeated those promises often throughout the Book of Genesis and then finally called the Israelites out of Egypt to take over the promised land. Almost from the beginning Canaan was a vital part of God's plan.
But, Israel's inheritance meant kicking out the current inhabitants. How could innocent people simply be pushed aside, or killed? Well, to answer this question, the Bible makes clear that these people were not completely "innocent" Through their long history of sin, they had forfeited their right to the land. In fact, historians have uncovered plenty of evidence of their wickedness. Canaanite temples featured prostitutes, orgies, and human sacrifice. Canaanite gods, such as Baal and his wife Anath, delighted in butchery and sadism. Archaeologists have also found great numbers of jars containing the tiny bones of children who were sacrificed to Baal. In short, Canaan had become like Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible consistently records that God has patience with decadent societies for a time, but judgment inevitably follows. For Sodom and Gomorrah it took the form of fire and brimstone. For Canaan, it came through Joshua's conquering armies.
Life Question: Can an argument be made today for supporting a holy war?
The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain."
There is something irrational and even repulsive about a holy war. It harnesses all the best energies of religion for one of the ugliest acts of human nature. And yet anyone who reads the Bible cannot ignore the holy wars of the Old Testament. Furthermore, God's involvement raises unique questions. He personally orders the destruction of seven Canaanite nations, with no survivors. Why?
The Old Testament makes clear that the Canaanites were not being uprooted on a sudden whim. God had promised the land to the Israelites over 400 years before Joshua. He had called one man, Abraham, to found a nation of chosen people. He repeated those promises often throughout the Book of Genesis and then finally called the Israelites out of Egypt to take over the promised land. Almost from the beginning Canaan was a vital part of God's plan.
But, Israel's inheritance meant kicking out the current inhabitants. How could innocent people simply be pushed aside, or killed? Well, to answer this question, the Bible makes clear that these people were not completely "innocent" Through their long history of sin, they had forfeited their right to the land. In fact, historians have uncovered plenty of evidence of their wickedness. Canaanite temples featured prostitutes, orgies, and human sacrifice. Canaanite gods, such as Baal and his wife Anath, delighted in butchery and sadism. Archaeologists have also found great numbers of jars containing the tiny bones of children who were sacrificed to Baal. In short, Canaan had become like Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible consistently records that God has patience with decadent societies for a time, but judgment inevitably follows. For Sodom and Gomorrah it took the form of fire and brimstone. For Canaan, it came through Joshua's conquering armies.
Life Question: Can an argument be made today for supporting a holy war?
In the Old Testament, God was dealing primarily with one particular nation, the Israelites, for a very specific purpose. When Christ finally emerged out of that nation, everything changed. Although Jesus' followers all lived in the same territory captured by Joshua, the "promised land", he also commanded his disciples to go out, away from Jerusalem, into all the world...and to go not as conquering armies but rather as bearers of the Good News that applies to all people, races, and nations. I find it terribly sad that after all these years, there is still so much turmoil and hatred in the world, particularly the Middle East...and I'm guessing that God feels the same way too.
1 comment:
I see the new "Holy War" as an internal war against everything that wars against godly living. We have much the same choice between His kingdom or the world system as did Joshua. The "world" as it exists apart from the direction and interaction of God's rule must be overthrown by living life in the "Spirit" which comes as a result of trust/faith in the power of resurrection living through the power of the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
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