No compromise
New Year’s Day
Joshua Chapters 10 and 11 Read it here
Many Christians, myself included, are troubled by accounts like those we read today of the utter ruthlessness with which Joshua and the Israelites slaughtered the inhabitants of the Promised Land.
In most cases the cities conquered had done nothing to harm God’s people other than to be in the way.
But ultimately it wasn’t a question of justice…it was a question of obedience. God commanded, and the people did it. In our era where at least a pretense of gentleness is expected this looks harsh. It is harsh, but it is what God, for whatever his reasons, knew to be necessary.
It’s tempting to look for explanations or excuses, but none are appropriate. It’s not up to us to either approve of or condemn God’s actions—simply to be obedient to his clear commands.
The contrast of the Gibeonites in Chapter 10 is especially striking considering the series of bloodbaths that follow. Here we have a city that arguably has wronged Israel by tricking Joshua into a treaty. But when the surrounding kings attack Gibeon, Joshua comes to their aid quickly and decisively, and God grants him victory, even throwing in the miraculous lengthening of the day for good measure.
God, it seems, is true to his word, even when it means backing an unfortunate treaty.
As difficult as this story is to understand or accept, at least God’s refusal to compromise once he has given his word is a positive lesson we can draw from it—especially now that we live in the time when God has also given his Word.