Posted on 03/28/2010 3:06:45 PM PDT by Shellybenoit
This year, in reciting the Passover story and Exodus from Egypt, I suggest extending the discussion to include stories that might have been featured in newspapers, blogs, and nightly news broadcasts of 4,000 years ago (give or take a few centuries).
In this not-so-imaginary world, the headlines and video clips highlight stark images of blood flowing in the Nile and the devastation from frogs, boils, locusts and other plagues. The BBC sends a team of reporters to document the devastation in Egypt for a 10-part series – one for each plague. Editorials attack pro-Israelite conspirators, and NPR features moving interviews with carefully chosen Egyptian victims, reached in their suddenly servant-less Cairo villas.
These media stories are accompanied by United Nations Human Rights Council resolutions condemning the Israelites for brutal violations of international law and the disproportionate use of force. (European diplomats, are seen squirming awkwardly in their seats and wagging their fingers at the Israelite delegation.)
(Excerpt) Read more at yidwithlid.blogspot.com ...
Moses was following orders.
One of the sad points of a Holy Week is the flood of “Journalist stories” that cast aspersions upon religious figures.
“The facts of the matter are that the Canaanites, whom God’s people were commanded to destroy, were destroyed for their own wickedness (Deuteronomy 9:4; 18:9-12; Leviticus 18:24-25,27-28). Canaanite culture and religion in the second millennium B.C. were polluted, corrupt, and unbelievably perverted. No doubt the people were physically diseased from their illicit behavior. There simply was no viable solution to their condition except destruction. Their moral depravity was “full” (Genesis 15:16). They had slumped to such an immoral, depraved state, with no hope of recovery, that their existence on this Earth had to be ended. A similar predicament existed in Noah’s day when God waited while Noah preached for years but was unable to divert the world’s population from its wickedness (Genesis 6:3,5-7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:5-9). Including the children in the destruction of such populations actually spared them from a worse condition—that of being reared to be as wicked as their parents, thereby facing eternal punishment. All persons who die in childhood, according to the Bible, are ushered to Paradise and, ultimately will reside in heaven. Children with evil parents must naturally suffer innocently while on Earth (e.g., Exodus 20:5; Numbers 14:33).”-—Dave Miller, Ph.D.
From Pharoah’s persepective, yes. Any criminal, terrorist, tyrant, or bully will always villify those on whom they impose their tyranny. Look at what the criminal Left in the District of Criminals have been trying to do for the longest time to Joe Sixpack.
Thanks. I have run into people complaining that no good God would order people to wipe out entire cities, killing everyone in them.
I point out in return that God has already determined that He’s going to kill us all. Either he has done it, or He will do it.
The way He chooses is also His business.
I have to admit, I nver thought of it quite like that, but you are right. Who are we that we think we can question the sovereignty of God? It is a no win question.
“Let God be true and every man a liar.” - Samuel
I look at it a little differently. Adam and Eve made their choice and we are included in the consequences of their choice. It’s NOT what God had in mind for us, but he sent Jesus so that we would live forever. Frankly, He paid a huge price to do that and I think I’m the winner.
As St. Augustine pointed out, we know that the Israelites' wars were just, because God commanded them, including wiping out whole peoples. Augustine began the definition of the Just War Doctrine to help us make decisions about the justice of a particular war when we don't have God's specific orders.
The only thing I disagree with here is your first sentence, twigs. There is no mutual exclusion between what I wrote and what you wrote.
Hebrews 9:26-28 (New King James Version) 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
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