Bible Discussion Thread

Further discussion on children and destruction in scriptures

God has no joy in the destruction of the wicked. ( Ezekiel 18:23; 33:11). So He also; by default would have none in the death of the innocent.

Continuing on the theme of such calls for death of everyone; we cannot ignore the child sacrifice that was so prevalent in the nations surrounding Israel. Thus; it is certainly plausable that these children would have died a far worse and more tortuous death if they had been allowed to live in that manner. It is also possible that God has chosen to save some who He knew otherwise would take up Pagan customs themselves and more innocent life should they be allowed to live to adulthood. Such postulations are hardly satisfactory or certainly not enjoyable as some sort of curiousity or mystery. These hard verses cannot always be ignored either; even if we cannot understand; we trust God has some plan or purpose for it; just has He does for famines; wars; disease; etc that take innocent lives every day.

We can gain some wisdom when we look at God's chastisements of Israel itself such as in Lamentations. Such evils were worse as described in that book for those who endured the famine; ate their own children; etc then dying in battle ( Lamentations 4:9).

Warnings of curses and horrible results are spelled out in Deuteronomy; and we need to see the progress in a society as it breaks down (just look around today). The Prophet Jeremiah known as the "weeping prophet" as well as others were in great anguish seeing visions of the destruction to come.

We also need to look at situations such as with Rahab. (Joshua chapter 2). Proper respect and fear of God along with proper action with God's people was able to procure favor in the coming invasion; for her and her entire immediate family. She also later was an important part of the descendants of Israel. This shows repentance and along with others in scripture; a decision to become one of God's people.

Hi Richard,

Thanks for bringing up this discussion.

I have posted already on this topic, but I wanted to just speak to the "innocence" of young children and babies. Although no one is completely innocent of sin as David stated that he was sinful from conception. All are this way due to the sinful nature.

But as for young children, babies, and pre-born babies, they either may not have yet actively sinned or do not understand that what they did is sin against God, even though they know they did wrong ( they feel guilt), or they do not understand the fullness of the gravity of sin and judgment. In this sense, there is an innocence that is unlike older children and adults. These young people have not the mental capacity to understand what sin is. Also, they have not lived long enough to observe or participate in outright wickedness that is prevalent in society. Good parents shield their young children from such things. This innocence comes with a vulnerability to be abused, mistreated, and seriously harmed by wicked deeds of others who know better.

But in the matter of God ordering the slaying of all members of an ethnic group, young, adult, elderly; innocent, vulnerable, or culpable, we just cannot truly know God's reasons or purpose in commanding this, unless the text right out states why.

And also, so many people suffer and perish in wars, natural disasters, violence, illnesses and it is God who allows it. he is in charge of our lives from the first moment of conception to our last heartbeat. Our lives are in His hands and it decides when we are conceived and when we die. We, as creatures are the possessions of the Creator. We cannot judge Him negatively in this matter because He has revealed to us that He is absolutely good, just, holy, and completely unable to do what is immoral.

His judgments are true and right. His will is perfectly good. His purposes are for His glory. His wisdom is above all other wisdom in lucidity, expansiveness, and reasonableness.