Articles
Turning Points in Bible History - 8
The next major turning point changes the map of the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea for centuries to come. As God moves to fulfill His second promise to Abraham, a new generation of Israelites conquers Canaan: a land of their own; a rest from wilderness wandering; a haven from their enemies.
But this did not come without serious trauma. God first removed their established leadership as Miriam, Aaron and Moses all die (Num 20:1; 22-29; Dt 34). Joshua, having completed a lengthy leadership apprentice program, was appointed as commander of the military conquest (Dt 31:1-8). Second, the land was taken by warfare rather than some gigantic divine cataclysm. This leads to a significant objection by Bible skeptics who find it difficult to reconcile that a kind and loving God would command genocidal annihilation.
There are many factors to consider in response to this, but note these two brief ideas:
1) God is demonstrating through His specially chosen people, Israel, that He is the true God, not their idols of wood and stone which merely reflect the worst of human nature.
2) God, as creator, has the right to judge those who reject Him and embrace false gods. And He may do so by any means He chooses – in this case via Israel as His instrument of justice.
Israel goes on to inhabit the land for the next 1,400 or so years until the Messiah comes and provides true heavenly citizenship.
