The Old Testament Scripture Commanding Destruction Order Instructions: Response to the claim that the Old Testament is not inspired Scripture because it includes commands from God for the Israelites to destroy the Canaanites
Topic: How would you respond to the claim that the Old Testament is not inspired Scripture because it includes commands from God for the Israelites to destroy the Canaanites?
The paper must follow current Turabian guidelines and include analysis of key issues and passages related to the topic you select for your paper. It must be well-researched and carefully argued. A minimum of 6 scholarly sources must be used when writing this paper. Biblical evidence and explanation of key biblical texts is essential. Avoid diatribes against those you might disagree with. Sources that are cited, referenced, and/or quoted must be footnoted, and the paper must be the student’s original work. In light of the length of this paper, avoid lengthy quotations and make sure that the paper stays on-topic. Use headings to mark off the major sections of your paper. A bibliography of sources used must be included
The Old Testament Scripture Commanding Destruction Sample Answer
Introduction
In viewing the modern skepticism, it is essential to consider the fact that the accusations labeled against the inspiration of Scriptures primarily finds root from Gods command to the Israelites to conquer the Canaanites. In Deuteronomy 20; 16b-17, God is seen commanding the Israelites on the following
Whenever you capture cities within the land that your God is giving you, be sure to kill all the animals and the people. I have commanded you to wipe completely out the Amorites, Hittites, the Perizzites, Canaanites and the Jebusites. For if you allow them to continue living amongst you, they will persuade you into worshiping their gods, and you will be unfaithful to your God[1].
It is essential to note that while other groups are mentioned in that portion of scripture, most attention is aligned towards the Canaanites, a factor that will determine the primary focus of this paper. This paper, therefore, gives a clear rebuttal to the allegations that the Old Testament is not inspired considering the above scripture[2]. The paper will provide a clear argument on Gods commands for the destruction of Canaan and its people as a fit into his attributes of justice and goodness, a factor that will render the passage inspired. In order to thoroughly understand the Biblical context of this scripture, the paper will determine the goodness of God and the moral accountability that He provides for His people including the Canaanites[3]. Through this, I will, therefore, be able to investigate the justness of God in this scenario.
Claims That the Old Testament Is Not Inspired
It is imperative to determine how we would respond to accusations that the Old Testament is not inspired considering the commands and directives were given by God that demands the destruction and the shedding of blood of groups the like of the Canaanites.
Goodness of God and His Moral Accountability;
Many critics have today denied the inspiration of the Old Testament based on Gods command for the Canaanites destruction that tends to defy the goodness of God. Some schools of thought hold that this command to destroy the Canaanites may add to the enigma of theodicy[4]. This scripture has therefore posed a challenge to the modern Bible readers who struggle to understand Gods intent in His command, a factor that would depict the evil nature of a good God. Many struggle to find the balance especially in understanding if this is the same God who asks of His children to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them that they may turn out to be the children of the Father in heaven (Matthew 5:44-45, NIV).[5]
To understand the context of this scripture, it is empirical to comprehend the fact that Gods goodness holds characterized by several facets, a fact that the skeptics ignore. According to Millard J. Erickson’s view, Gods moral purity is an element of His goodness, and this includes other dimensions such as holiness, justice, and righteousness. Being a holy God, therefore, infers to the fact that God can never tolerate evil or sin.[6] This can be precisely determined in Habakkuk 1, 13 in which the Prophet denotes that God possesses pure eyes that do not see evil and cannot look at wrong. In the New Testament, Christ captions this by alluding to the fact that those who have committed evil will be raised to face the wrath of judgment (John 5:29)[7].
In the second aspect, it is crucial to determine Gods moral purity as it relates to his righteousness. In this case, God did not defy His holiness by asking for the destruction of the Canaanites since this people engaged in evil. This clearly typifies the act of God to what Paul ascertain in scripture that God’s wrath will be revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of man, whom by their unrighteousness tend to subdue the truth(Romans 1:18-19)[8]. Paul’s statement, therefore, shows that all human beings as applied in the case of the Canaanites are held accountable to God for their evil. However, the Canaanites were given the opportunity to change their wicked ways since God was willing to wait for about 430 years a factor that did not materialize.
The Justice of God against the Unrighteousness of the Canaanites;
According to one critic Norman Geisler, the ruthless command to destroy life and property of the Canaanites may not have any moral justification. Normal alleges that this action seems contrary to Gods command not to take the life of any innocent human being. However, it is essential to note that this accusation from this critic lacks the consideration of the attributes of God, especially on justice[9]. It is, therefore, essential to determine the fact that God does not only act in accordance with his law, but he administers his kingdom in conformity with it since he is just. Justice as an element of his righteousness requires that his children adhere to these standards as well. Simon Peter alleges in 2 Peter 3:9 that the Lord delays Christ’s return since He is patient towards us and does not wish that anyone perishes but come to the point of repentance. As determined in this paper, the Canaanites were given the opportunity to change and repent but they never took advantage of this chance.
The Canaanites chose to dedicate their lives to their idolatrous practices that saw them put their belief in Baal whom they believed was a king among the gods. With the help of the goddess Anath, Baal is alleged to have defeated death and the chaotic sea and was also considered the source of agricultural prosperity and human fertility[10]. This gives an illusion as to why Baal was found appealing to the Canaanites. God was not pleased with his people trying to challenge his royal authority, a factor that denotes his approach in commanding their complete wipe off.
Secondly, it is essential also to note that the Canaanites were also evil in their practices. The Canaanites deities engaged in adultery, incest homosexuality, bestiality and child sacrifice. The deities were also involved in violent, and bloodlust acts a factor that did not please God. Sources disclose that Anath[11], the goddess of war and sex drunk her victims’ blood and always was surrounded by corpses. This clearly gives an illusion of the intensity of the Canaanites wickedness that was aimed at also influencing Gods people into these acts.
In a nutshell, it is, therefore, essential to determine that God does not permit any evil to linger considering his attributes. This does not give an illusion that God was happy in slapping such a command on the Canaanites face[12]. Divine commands according to sources can at times be issued with a heavy heart. In as much as critics may reason that such commands to thrash and drive out an entire generation may be evil, it is essential to determine and understand the rationale behind these commands[13]. God can never allow Himself to be good while allowing evil to emerge without any judgment. In His good nature and justice, His act of calling warfare against the Canaanites is justified considering the fact that God in many occasions uses nations as a tool to deliver justice as depicted in Romans 13:4[14]. In the event that God did not act as prescribed in the Scripture, evil would have enveloped into the surrounding society and eventually engulf the world.
The Old Testament Scripture Commanding Destruction Conclusion
In as much as many critics have today denied the inspiration of the Old Testament based on Gods command for the Canaanites destruction that tends to defy the goodness of God, the plain truth lies in the fact that the Old Testament is inspired even in light of the scripture that denotes God allowing and commanding for the destruction of the Canaanites. In order to justify my position, it is imperative to clearly understand that this command fitted well within Gods justice and goodness.
In as much as our God is good, He, on the other hand, can never allow evil to evolve within generations. The Canaanites were seen as an evil society who practiced sexual immorality, idolatry, and violence. This, therefore, justifies Gods actions in commanding for their invasion. This factor, therefore, validates the inspiration of the Old Testament through an indication of the fact that the God of the times of the Old Testament is still the same even in this new dispensation.
The Old Testament Scripture Commanding Destruction References
Edelman, Diana. “Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan.” Biblical Interpretation 10, no. 1 (January 2002): 79-81. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed September 21, 2015).
Endris, Vince. 2008. “Yahweh versus Baal: A Narrative-Critical Reading of the Gideon/Abimelech Narrative.” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 33, no. 2: 173-195. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed September 21, 2015).
Foster, Stuart J. 2010. “The Missiology of Old Testament Covenant.” International Bulletin Of Missionary Research 34, no. 4: 205-208. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed September 21, 2015).
Graham, Jeannine Michele. 2014. “Systematic Theology and Spiritual Formation: Recovering Obscured Unities.” Journal of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care 7, no. 2: 177-190. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed September 21, 2015).
Williams, Stephen N. “Could God have commanded the slaughter of the Canaanites?” Tyndale Bulletin 63, no. 2 (January 1, 2012): 161-178. Accessed September 21, 2015. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost.
Wonsuk, Ma. 2008. “The Presence of Evil and Human Response In The Old Testament.” Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 11, no. 1/2: 15-32. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed September 21, 2015).
PR, Newswire. 2015. “50-Year Anniversary Celebration Continues with the NIV Bible: “Made to Study.” PR Newswire US, April 01. Regional Business News, EBSCOhost (accessed September 21, 2015).
[1]. PR, Newswire. 2015. “50-Year Anniversary Celebration Continues with the NIV Bible: “Made to Study.” PR Newswire US, April 01. Regional Business News,
[2]. Ibid. 1
[3]. Ibid. 2
[4]. Foster, Stuart J. 2010. “The Missiology of Old Testament Covenant.” International Bulletin Of Missionary Research 34, no. 4: 205-208.
[5]. PR, Newswire. 2015. “50-Year Anniversary Celebration Continues with the NIV Bible: “Made to Study.” PR Newswire US, April 01. Regional Business News.
[6]. Ibid. 3
[7]. Ibid. 4
[8]. Ibid. 5
[9]. Endris, Vince. 2008. “Yahweh versus Baal: A Narrative-Critical Reading of the Gideon/Abimelech Narrative.” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 33, no. 2: 173-195.
[10]. Foster, Stuart J. 2010. “The Missiology of Old Testament Covenant.” International Bulletin Of Missionary Research 34, no. 4: 205-208.
[11]. Graham, Jeannine Michele. 2014. “Systematic Theology and Spiritual Formation: Recovering Obscured Unities.” Journal of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care 7, no. 2: 177-190.
[12]. Williams, Stephen N. “Could God have commanded the slaughter of the Canaanites?” Tyndale Bulletin 63, no. 2
[13].Wonsuk, Ma. 2008. “The Presence of Evil and Human Response In The Old Testament.” Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 11, no. 1/2: 15-32
[14]. PR, Newswire. 2015. “50-Year Anniversary Celebration Continues with the NIV Bible: “Made to Study.” PR Newswire US, April 01.
