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Joshua 11: 14 (NIV)
The Israelites carried off for
themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people
they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone
that breathed.
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| God does not call us to be separate for the sake of isolation.* |
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Israel’s invasion of Canaan is a bloody and brutal story. We
wonder why God would command that even the children should be included in his
scorched-earth policy. To help us understand, fast-forward to another era of
Israel’s history: their conquest and captivity by other nations. These invaders weren’t so diligent about wiping out their new subjects, sometimes
even going so far as to allow them some measure of religious freedom, and
promoting them to positions of authority. Among the Israelites exiled to
other lands were many who continued to practice the religion of their ancestors
– even some who had no memory of their homeland or perhaps had never even
been there. Similarly, if God had been willing to spare any of the Canaanites,
even babies, there could have been a remnant among them who would one day
resurrect the wicked idol-worship of their parents and infect the Israelites.
God had to be thorough in protecting the purity of his people.
The church is under attack all over the world. We rightfully
fear for our religious freedom in the United States. Satan may use his forces
of evil to conquer God’s people but his victory will be hollow – and temporary.
There is a message of hope for us in the idea of a remnant. In Romans, chapter
11, Paul refers to the story of Elijah who thought he was the only surviving worshiper of God in all of Israel. As it turned out, there was a remnant of
7,000 who had not bowed down to Baal. Paul then reminds us: “So, too, at the
present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.”
The most powerful and hopeful message for the church comes
from Jesus himself: “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of
Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16: 18)
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| The church . . . was God’s idea. This means it is good and it will succeed.* |
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