old testament question

[motorex]

the sabbath school lesson is leading into a period of the children of Isreal that has always been troubling to me, primarily the use of the Isrealites to exacute Gods judgement on all the wicked nations throughout canaan. In reading patriarchs and prophets she says that when they came to the promised land the first time ,had they had faith in God rather than the 10 scared spy's, they would have marched right in. And since they had to be tested a second time, that the tests were much harder the second time. Anyway, my question is this , do you think that God would have had them doing so much killing if they had trusted him, and simply followed the cloud of glory into the promised land the first time? I'm thinking of the story later on when God himself took care of the decendants, of lot and esau, when he had them fight each other till none was left.  He could have provided miricles like that the first trip through. yes? no?

[Raven]

I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.  And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.  I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.  Exodus 23:27-30

The Lord had never commanded them to "go up and fight." It was not His purpose that they should gain the land by warfare, but by strict obedience to His commands.  PP 392

By their signal victory the enemies of Israel, who had before awaited with trembling the approach of that mighty host, were inspired with confidence to resist them. All the reports they had heard concerning the marvelous things that God had wrought for His people, they now regarded as false, and they felt that there was no cause for fear. That first defeat of Israel, by inspiring the Canaanites with courage and resolution, had greatly increased the difficulties of the conquest.  PP 394

What I get from these passages from both the Bible and the pen of Ellen White, is that the original plan was for God to deal with the heathen.  But, because of Israel's stubbornness and rebellion, He allowed them to experience war, and even ordered them to do what He originally would have done for them.  I don't profess to understand all the whys and wherefores, but I do know that whatever God does is for the good of His kingdom, both now and for eternity.  I expect that those few times when God engineered events so that Israel's enemies fell upon each other, would have been a common occurrence, if the Israelites would have cooperated with Him.  Those who would question (that is, criticize) God's dealings with mankind don't understand the big picture.

[Slingshot]

I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.  And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.  I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.  Exodus 23:27-30

The Lord had never commanded them to "go up and fight." It was not His purpose that they should gain the land by warfare, but by strict obedience to His commands.  PP 392

By their signal victory the enemies of Israel, who had before awaited with trembling the approach of that mighty host, were inspired with confidence to resist them. All the reports they had heard concerning the marvelous things that God had wrought for His people, they now regarded as false, and they felt that there was no cause for fear. That first defeat of Israel, by inspiring the Canaanites with courage and resolution, had greatly increased the difficulties of the conquest.  PP 394

What I get from these passages from both the Bible and the pen of Ellen White, is that the original plan was for God to deal with the heathen.  But, because of Israel's stubbornness and rebellion, He allowed them to experience war, and even ordered them to do what He originally would have done for them.  I don't profess to understand all the whys and wherefores, but I do know that whatever God does is for the good of His kingdom, both now and for eternity.  I expect that those few times when God engineered events so that Israel's enemies fell upon each other, would have been a common occurrence, if the Israelites would have cooperated with Him.  Those who would question (that is, criticize) God's dealings with mankind don't understand the big picture.

I agree with Raven on this one.

God's original plan did not call for Israel to do a lot of killing.

[motorex]

well that was the impression that i got from reading pp, it's just that i've never heard a sermon where anyone has peached on this. They all seem to infer that it was just one of the "mysteries " of God., very interesting., thanks again.

[newbie]

I agree with Raven on this one.

God's original plan did not call for Israel to do a lot of killing.

agree..... who knows where things would have gone if it hadn't been for that golden calf!!