Destruction of the Wicked

 Deuteronomy 2-3, 7, 9, 20, 25.

Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked 

The following list contains the nations that the Lord commanded the Israelites to destroy:

-Hittites

-Amorites

-Canaanites

-Perizzites

-Hivites

-Jebusites

-The Lord commanded the Israelites to utterly destroy the people.  In a very straight forward manner, \they were told not only to smite them, but to not covenant with them and show no mercy unto them. They were also told to destroy all the places in which these nations served their own gods, and also to destroy all the items in them.

 “Why Did the Lord Command the Israelites to Utterly Destroy the Canaanites?”

            The Lord ordered the Israelites to destroy the Canaanites, because their level of iniquity and evil had reached a level that it was all consuming.  It was affecting too many others and the only way to stop it was to destroy it.  When such evil practices will greatly lead others down the path of unrighteousness than the Lord has commanded it to be destroyed.

Many of the sins found among the people living in Canaan are prevalent in today’s society. Write a paragraph explaining how you think we can protect ourselves from these sins.

                        I think this is such a difficult topic to take on.  First of all, the sins mentioned in the student manual (Idolatry, immorality, etc) are found all around us.  All you have to do is look at the magazines displayed in the checkout aisle of most supermarkets to see all of these things displayed in a way that makes them see so desirous and glorious.  Models in skimpy clothes and article headlines discussing ways to be better at immorality scream at us.  Fancy luxury items flash in front of us proclaiming that we NEED more and more (thus, emphasizing idolatry:  the worship of something other than God).

            It is easy to think at times that we don’t stand a chance.  Then I look at the amazing impressionable generation of young ones, and see the most pure spirits just waiting to be taught the truths of the gospel and of God’s love.  By teaching them constantly what is right and what is wrong, they gain the foundation needed to take on bigger and scarier things.  And by being diligent in teaching them, we ourselves gain stronger fortitudes and testimonies to take on the growing problems.  By helping protect our must vulnerable, we protect ourselves.