Did God Order The Death Of Whole Tribes And Nations (O.T.)?

[ERayR]

I find that ambergrising!

Made me go to the dictionary for that one.

Edited July 30, 2012 by ERayR

[rongo]

Many years ago I was very interested to read of an actual person being swallowed and surviving in the belly of a whale.

God knows the end from the beginning. He can easily arrange for any creature to be anywhere and to carry out His gracious requests.

Jonah was a real person. His experiences did happen. O ye of little faith . . .

It occurs to me that my post about Jonah may have made my views unclear. I believe Jonah really existed and that the "Jonah incident" really happened. My point was that Jesus treated the Jonah story as "real," which carries a lot of weight (for me). Which was the point you were making, longview.

[treehugger]

I appreciate you underscoring my point. [thumbs up]

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Sorry but your point is not proven, not even a bit. Posting the scriptures is not a philosophical question or trap.

And to disparage someone who asks about scripture with "philosophical questions/trap" tends to shown a flippant disregard. Surely there is something to learn from such stories. As I recall the peoples who were ordered destroyed had not done as God commanded, and thus the land was given to the Israelites.

[wenglund]

Sorry but your point is not proven, not even a bit. Posting the scriptures is not a philosophical question or trap.

And to disparage someone who asks about scripture with "philosophical questions/trap" tends to shown a flippant disregard. Surely there is something to learn from such stories. As I recall the peoples who were ordered destroyed had not done as God commanded, and thus the land was given to the Israelites.

Again, I appreciate you underscoring my point, though evidently unwittingly (Hint: my point wasn't that we can't learn things from OT scriptures. I believe we can.).

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Edited July 30, 2012 by wenglund

[Lightbearer]

I believe the OT as is stands (as far as it is translated correctly) He commanded Joshua to whipe out the wicked as He (God) destroyed the armies of Egypt in the Red Sea. I also believe God destroyed the wicked in the flood, also He destroyed Sodom & Gommorah by fire, also I believe He commanded Saul to utterly destroy nations, and that because He disobeyed he lost his throne. I believe that Elijiah called down fire out of heaven and destroyed the false prophets of baal. Yes God does destroy the wicked to further His purposes (which is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. That is why Nephi was commanded to cut of the head of the drunken Laban. Killing is evil when we do so for our own purposes (greed, lust, hatred etc) But I do not call the OT stories "myths" that is akin to calling them "farie tales" and that I will not do.

At the Second comming God will destroy the unrepentant wicked just as He has in the past.

[Libs]

Not really clear how a vote matters to the reality of things....

It doesn't matter to whatever the reality may be. I was just curious about the opinions, of people on this board.

[ERayR]

It doesn't matter to whatever the reality may be. I was just curious about the opinions, of people on this board.

You still left out a most important choice.

[Libs]

You still left out a most important choice.

Which was?

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Not sure if I am doing this right. This is my first poll.

Yes he did, if the Bible is true...btw I don't get it. if we did we would be considered as evil. Sometimes I wonder if Nathan the Prophet or Solomon made it up.

[ERayR]

Which was?

Who Cares? or maybe better expressed: What difference does it make?

Edited July 30, 2012 by ERayR

[Libs]

Yes he did, if the Bible is true...btw I don't get it. if we did we would be considered as evil. Sometimes I wonder if Nathan the Prophet or Solomon made it up.

Hi Papa..

I don't think everything in the Bible has to be 100% true, in order for it to be true. I believe, and try to live by, many of the moral principles, in the Bible. Love God. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Walking in the spirit. Reflecting the "fruits of the spirit" (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). I believe those fruits are attributes of God, which is why I have a difficult time believing that "some" of what is attributed to Him, in the Old Testatment, truly was from Him. I tend to believe it was man, erroneously, attributing some of the more negative things to God...perhaps to try and justify some of their warring behavior.

[Libs]

Who Cares?

I do.

Edit: Ray, if I left out an important choice, I would really like to know. I, honestly, have no idea, as to what you are referring.

Edited July 30, 2012 by Libs

[Libs]

Oh...I think I know, now, what you mean. That it really doesn't matter which we believe? Perhaps, not.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Hi Papa..

I don't think everything in the Bible has to be 100% true, in order for it to be true. I believe, and try to live by, many of the moral principles, in the Bible. Love God. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Walking in the spirit. Reflecting the "fruits of the spirit" (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). I believe those fruits are attributes of God, which is why I have a difficult time believing that "some" of what is attributed to Him, in the Old Testatment, truly was from Him. I tend to believe it was man, erroneously, attributing some of the more negative things to God...perhaps to try and justify some of their warring behavior.

BTW...I meant Saul. As far as every word being true, do you think that "God repented of the evil he sought to do"? How could a holy God seek to do evil? Also what about the missing books of the Bible left out by men? Anything men deal with they make mistakes. Also the "sub" did not stand still as the Bible says...indeed the day have been lengthened, but not by the sun standing still.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

BTW...I meant Saul. As far as every word being true, do you think that "God repented of the evil he sought to do"? How could a holy God seek to do evil? Also what about the missing books of the Bible left out by men? Anything men deal with they make mistakes. Also the "sub" did not stand still as the Bible says...indeed the day have been lengthened, but not by the sun standing still.

BTW the things I mentioned are to agree with you that 100 percent is not true.

[Sis W.]

I believe in an Omniscient, Powerful God. I believe he is my Father. The earth is his and all that dwell therein. If he wants to wipe out whole populations--that is his business. However, as the mother of 5 sons and 6 grandsons I cannot even imagine any of them involved in the brutal extermination of a civilian population, killing helpless children, women and old people---I simply do not belive that I share DNA with any male who could kill small children and rip up pregnant women----and I just can't accepy that my Father would require that of his righteous sons.

[wenglund]

I believe in an Omniscient, Powerful God. I believe he is my Father. The earth is his and all that dwell therein. If he wants to wipe out whole populations--that is his business. However, as the mother of 5 sons and 6 grandsons I cannot even imagine any of them involved in the brutal extermination of a civilian population, killing helpless children, women and old people---I simply do not belive that I share DNA with any male who could kill small children and rip up pregnant women----and I just can't accept that my Father would require that of his righteous sons.

I wonder if our Father would want us to ruminate about what he may or may not have required of his righteous sons several millennial ago, rather than concentrating on what he requires of us, his children, today?

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[KevinG]

I wonder if our Father would want us to ruminate about what he may or may not have required of his righteous sons several millennial ago, rather than concentrating on what he requires of us, his children, today?

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

It is called placing the onus of responsibility on someone else or in psychological terms deflection. I see it all the time with adults and teenagers who do not want to be accountable for their own actions and duties and will find any excuse to change the subject.

[Libs]

Come on, don't get insulting, now. There is nothing wrong with asking questions about scripture. It is done all the time. When we study the scriptures, almost all of us have questions. It has absolutely nothing to do with not wanting to take responsibility for our own lives.

Edited July 30, 2012 by Libs

[wenglund]

It is called placing the onus of responsibility on someone else or in psychological terms deflection. I see it all the time with adults and teenagers who do not want to be accountable for their own actions and duties and will find any excuse to change the subject.

...and how does that work for them? LOL

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[wenglund]

Come on, don't get insulting, now. There is nothing wrong with asking questions about scripture. It is done all the time. When we study the scriptures, almost all of us have questions. It has absolutely nothing to do with not wanting to take responsibility for our own lives.

We aren't against asking questions. We are about asking the right questions--those that move us forward towards our lofty personal and interpersonal goals, as opposed to those that may distract our attention elsewhere and to no good ends.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[KevinG]

Come on, don't get insulting, now. There is nothing wrong with asking questions about scripture. It is done all the time. When we study the scriptures, almost all of us have questions. It has absolutely nothing to do with not wanting to take responsibility for our own lives.

I'm not describing those who question. I'm describing those who constantly pick on others flaws so they don't have to address their own stuff. Full time or perennial critics. ...and there are more than enough of those to go around.

[KevinG]

...and how does that work for them? LOL

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Unfortunately I don't always manage the process correctly and my teens have escaped cleaning rooms or washing dishes because of some manufactured crisis or argument. Adults in my workplaces have done the same. In the short term it works and that is why it continues.

Drama.

Edited July 30, 2012 by KevinG

[JeremyOrbe-Smith]

These poll results are pretty frightening.

When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?" But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them."

[rongo]

I'm curious if you, or others who might be disturbed by the poll results, believe that God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, or that God commanded Nephi to kill Laban in cold blood.

Even though only involving one instead of many, both Nephi and Abraham were traumatized by the commandments. The topic of this thread is only a difference of degree, but the basic horror remains the same.