Meditations

Moody Radio Openline Nov 23, 2024 hour 1

Listener:

Did the sons of Israel commit genocide when they conquered Canaan under Joshua’s leadership?

Answer from Dr Michael Rydelnik @ 29:37

https://www.moodyradio.org/radioplayer.aspx?episode=623238&hour=1

Summary of answer:

According to Gensis 15:16, the God of Israel gave the Canaanites 400 years to repent, from the beginnings of the calling of Abraham until after He send the descendants of Abraham to Egypt and finally guiding them to Canaan. God is a God of judgement and will repay people for their sins. Joshua and the sons of Israel were used as an instrument to punish the Canaanites for their continuous and complete commitment to sins that stirred the wrath of the God of Israel. The extermination of the Canaanites is an isolated, one time event equivalent to Noah’s flood against humanity. All Canaanites perished except Rahab, who feared and believed in the God of Israel. Also, the term genocide is coined after the Nazis slaughtered the Jews during the holocaust.

Genesis 15

¹⁶ But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. -kjv

¹⁶ But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” -nkjv

¹⁶ Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the wrongdoing of the Amorite is not yet complete.” -nasb

¹⁶ In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” -niv