“You must destroy all the peoples the Lord your God gives over to you. Do not look on them with pity and do not serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
– Deuteronomy 7:16
This verse can be difficult to understand, especially when viewed through modern sensibilities. Why would a loving God command the destruction of entire nations? But when we look at the broader context of Scripture, we see that God’s judgment is always just, patient, and purposeful.
The nations in Canaan were not innocent. They were deeply entrenched in idolatry, sexual immorality, and violence. For centuries, God had extended patience toward them (Genesis 15:13-16), but their continued rebellion led to judgment. God’s command had nothing to do with ethnic cleansing; it was about removing the spiritual corruption that would inevitably pull Israel away from Him.
God hasn’t changed since the days of Moses. He’s still the same God – patient, righteous, and just. And the same principle applies today. While we are not called to wage physical battles, we are called to separate ourselves from sin and anything that would draw us away from God, including people. Compromising with sin may seem harmless at first, but it always leads to deeper entanglement.
Former Blackout Artist 