WEBVTT

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 So, if this is your first time with us, we're going through the summer in Sunday school,

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 we're going through a big picture overview of the big narrative of the Old Testament.

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 And each Sunday we're taking a little bit of a snippet of a different section of the Old Testament.

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 We started off with creation and fall, Abraham, we talked about the Exodus,

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 and now we come to the book of Joshua.

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 And to start, I'm going to read two stories, one from the news and one from Joshua, from this page.

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 On the last day of his short life, 10-year-old Sami had something important to say to his friend.

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 This will be the last time I see you, the boy said.

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 I have a feeling that I will die.

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 His friend, Hussein Hatem, loyally told his mate that he wished he could take his place and die instead.

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 That afternoon, a group of IS fighters came to the boys' primary school in a suburb on the outskirts of the city of Mosul.

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 They knocked on the door of every classroom.

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 Let them come out, we'll teach them a lesson, the fighters told the teachers.

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 Outside in the cement schoolyard, the men held Sami as the rest of the school gathered to watch.

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 Then my friend got really sad.

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 He was all alone, Hussein remembers.

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 One of the men raised his sword and hacked off Sami's head.

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 They told us to learn like this.

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 This is the way to cut people's heads off, Hussein says.

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 The girls were crying on his body, and I thought,

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 My poor friend.

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 We took his body.

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 One of my friends carried his head, and I carried his body.

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 We threw him on the garbage pile.

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 Shout, for the Lord has given you the city of Jericho.

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 So the people shouted, and the wall fell down flat,

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 so that the people went up into the city, and they captured the city.

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 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction,

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 both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.

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 Our world is no stranger to religiously motivated violence.

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 I was 10 years old on September 11th.

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 I feel as though, I and my whole generation,

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 feels as though our whole lives have been characterized with this narrative of religious violence.

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 And though we worship the Prince of Peace,

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 we now come to the book of Joshua.

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 As one commentator puts it,

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 a bloody tale of battle, violence, and wholesale slaughter.

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 A slaughter in which God assists with his mighty acts.

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 The smoke of burning towns, and the stench of rotting flesh,

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 hangs over its pages.

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 How can we worship such a God?

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 How can we make sense of this story,

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 knowing that we worship the utterly non-violent crucified one,

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 Jesus?

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 And can we dare hope that even in this book, in Joshua,

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 we can find something to teach us today as believers in Christ?

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 I start this way not to introduce turmoil into your faith,

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 but because this is something a lot of Christians really struggle with, this book.

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 And if you haven't struggled with it,

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 then part of my hope this morning is

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 that you might understand better why some people do struggle with this.

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 And to put my cards out on the table,

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 before I was a Christian,

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 the book of Joshua was a big reason

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 why I didn't want to take Christianity seriously.

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 So this is a big deal.

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 This is a challenging book for us today.

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 But before we deal with some of these really challenging questions,

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 we first need to understand the book of Joshua on its own terms,

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 in its own context.

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 How does this book function within the big narrative of God and Israel

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 in the Old Testament?

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 And to do that, we need to think back to Abraham.

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 A couple of weeks ago, we read in Genesis 15,

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 God made a covenant with Abram saying,

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 to your offspring I give this land,

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 from the river of Egypt to the great river,

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 the river Euphrates,

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 to the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, etc., etc.

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 The book of Joshua is a story of God fulfilling his promises.

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 Taken on its own terms,

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 this is a joyous narrative of God fulfilling what God had promised 400 years earlier.

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 Now, after 40 years in the wilderness,

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 as a result of fearful disobedience that we talked about last week,

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 now finally Israel is finally entering that land that God had promised to Abraham.

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 Centuries earlier, this is a climactic moment in Israel's history.

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 And most of the book is stories of taking the land violently,

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 or dividing up the land among the tribes of Israel.

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 And we're not going to read those stories at length.

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 But the first big paragraph of Joshua, Joshua 1,

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 we will read, if you have a Bible,

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 you can turn to Joshua chapter 1.

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 Because it is...

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 Well, we'll see. Let's read it first.

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 All right.

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 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord,

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 the Lord said to Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' assistant,

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 Moses, my servant, is dead.

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 Now, therefore, arise.

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 Go over this Jordan, you and all this people,

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 into the land that I am giving to them,

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 to the people of Israel.

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 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon,

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 upon, sorry, every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon,

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 I have given to you.

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 Just as I promised to Moses.

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 From the wilderness, in this Lebanon,

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 as far as the great river, the river Euphrates,

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 all the land of the Hittites to the great sea,

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 toward the going down of the sun,

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 shall be your territory.

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 No man shall be able to stand before you

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 all the days of your life.

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 Just as I was with Moses,

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 so I will be with you.

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 I will not leave you or forsake you.

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 Be strong and courageous,

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 for you shall cause this people to inherit the land

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 that I swore to their fathers to give them.

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 Only be strong and very courageous,

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 being careful to do according to all the law

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 that Moses, my servant, commanded you.

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 Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left,

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 that you may have good success wherever you go.

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 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth,

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 but you shall meditate on it day and night,

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 so that you may be careful to do according to all

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 that is written in it.

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 For then you will make your way prosperous,

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 and then you will have good success.

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 Have I not commanded you?

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 Be strong and courageous.

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 Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,

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 for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

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 I love that at the end.

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 Have I not commanded you?

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 And Joshua might be sitting there

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 if he wanted to do some sassy backtalk to God,

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 which he doesn't.

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 He'd say, yeah, you have commanded me.

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 I get it.

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 Be strong and courageous.

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 Because that is repeated over and over

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 in this first section.

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 There's a mug over at Trinity House

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 that says, be strong and courageous,

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 Joshua 1.9 on it.

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 Sort of plucking that out of the context

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 of what he's being strong and courageous for.

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 But there's a lot here for us to meditate on.

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 After all, fear is what kept Israel

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 from the promised land 40 years earlier.

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 And God knows how Israel is being tempted now.

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 They're afraid.

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 And God responds accordingly by saying,

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 over and over, I am with you.

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 Be strong and courageous.

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 There is a word of comfort for us here

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 in showing us the character of our God towards us.

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 If we have ears to listen,

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 God is not subtle in directing us

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 on how he wants for us to live.

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 He's not subtle with Joshua, certainly.

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 Be strong and courageous.

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 I mention this because I feel like so often,

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 especially in my generation I've seen,

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 at the seminary and in my time with campus ministry,

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 people can get very anxious about trying

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 to discern God's will for their lives.

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 And yet, if you open up to the Sermon on the Mount,

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 Jesus is not at all subtle about how he wants us to live.

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 He's not at all subtle about the things

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 that are important to him.

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 And maybe the issue is that the things

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 that are important to us are not the things

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 that are important to him, at any rate.

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 You can see there's no military advice

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 in this opening paragraph of Joshua.

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 That's why it's so easy to take a verse out of this

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 and put it on a mug.

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 There's a sense in which,

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 as Nick was preaching last week,

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 Israel is actually,

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 there's a sense in which Israel isn't fighting these battles.

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 God is.

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 And so, Israel's success in the coming battles

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 that take up about half the book of Joshua

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 is not contingent on typical military measures

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 like the size of their army

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 or the kind of tactics they employ.

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 I mean, the first battle they do,

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 their tactics involve marching around it

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 and shouting at the city of Jericho.

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 No, but their success in battle

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 depends on their fidelity to God.

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 Then, why does Joshua need to be obedient?

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 What is the command that they are being obedient to?

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 Well, I mean, on one level,

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 it's all of the commands in the book of the law, right?

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 But the specific unique command

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 that they're carrying out in most of the book of Joshua

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 is this harem command.

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 That's a Hebrew word.

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 I'm sorry, please forgive me.

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 But it's difficult to translate words.

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 That's why I have a section on the handout about it.

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 It comes up first a couple of times

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 in the book of Deuteronomy.

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 And I have a couple of sections there that I'll read

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 from chapter 7 and from chapter 20 in Deuteronomy.

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 When the Lord, your God, brings you into the land

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 that you are entering to take possession of it

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 and clears away many nations before you,

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 you must devote them to complete destruction.

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 That devote to complete destruction,

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 that's the word we're talking about.

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 You shall make no covenant with them

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 and show no mercy to them.

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 And then later on,

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 in the cities of these peoples

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 that the Lord, your God,

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 is giving you for an inheritance,

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 you shall save alive nothing that breathes,

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 but you shall devote them to complete destruction,

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 that they may not teach you to do

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 according to all their abominable practices

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 that they have done for their gods.

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 And so you sin against the Lord, your God.

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 So this utterly unique command in the whole Bible

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 is that Israel would devote

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 all the inhabitants of the promised land

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 to complete destruction.

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 This Hebrew word is harem.

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 You gotta have some phlegm in the back of your throat

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 to say it right.

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 I don't.

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 If anyone actually knows Hebrew,

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 forgive my pronunciation.

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 And this word is not just go and kill them all,

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 but it involves consecration,

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 the giving over of the captives of war to God.

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 It's almost like a sacrificial idea.

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 As Israel kills every living thing in the promised land,

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 it's almost an act of worship,

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 which is chilling.

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 Chilling.

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 You know,

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 almost an act of worship insofar as sacrifice

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 in Israelite religion is an act of worship.

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 It's just as chilling for Jesus to tell us

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 that we have to fight sin in our own bodies.

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 We'll get there.

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 Well, it's not,

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 but we'll get there.

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 We'll get there.

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 It's chilling because I'm not perfect.

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 We'll get there.

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 Wait till the last page.

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 Where was I?

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 I.

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 Yes.

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 There was something I was going to say,

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 but then I forgot it.

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 So it was clearly not important.

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 Yeah.

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 Okay.

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 So one might,

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 one might say,

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 well,

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 this isn't this command.

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 If you know the book of Joshua

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 and one of the most famous characters in the book,

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 Rahab,

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 you'll think,

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 well,

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 not actually every living thing is killed in the land.

00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.259
 Oh,

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 before.

00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:26.360
 Okay.

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 I remembered.

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 Who?

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 Yes.

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 Okay.

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 So if you,

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 if you know the King James Bible,

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 I think it translates this,

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 devote to complete destruction.

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 It says,

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 put the ban on so-and-so.

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 The idea is that they are to ban these people and objects

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 from ordinary use.

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 You're banning it from ordinary use

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 and to be used exclusively by,

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 by God.

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 So it's a kind of a consecration almost,

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 which just makes it all the more chilling,

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 frankly.

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 But we'll talk about that.

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 But then one might say,

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 well,

00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:03.220
 what,

00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.279
 what about Rahab?

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:06.240
 She shows up in chapter two of Joshua.

00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:08.519
 And then in chapter six,

00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:10.519
 it specifically mentioned that she is spared her

00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.200
 and her whole family.

00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.440
 Um,

00:14:12.820 --> 00:14:15.860
 Rahab cooperates with some Israelite spies,

00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:16.960
 hides them from the,

00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:18.420
 from the authorities of Jericho.

00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:20.259
 And then her family is spared.

00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:21.440
 Um,

00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:22.960
 well,

00:14:23.140 --> 00:14:24.560
 this shows us that,

00:14:24.780 --> 00:14:25.500
 uh,

00:14:26.060 --> 00:14:28.900
 this is not ethnic cleansing going on

00:14:28.900 --> 00:14:29.720
 in the book of Joshua.

00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:31.280
 Uh,

00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:35.900
 it's not that God hates these people groups.

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:37.259
 Uh,

00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:38.980
 God hates their pagan practices,

00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:41.799
 which includes such things as child sacrifice.

00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:42.980
 We'll get there in a little bit,

00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:45.699
 but God doesn't hate these people groups.

00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:48.199
 And we should expect that because God said

00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:49.860
 to Abraham 400 years earlier,

00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:52.199
 that Abraham and his family would be a conduit

00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:53.220
 of blessing to the nations.

00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:56.740
 So God doesn't hate all the people who aren't Israel.

00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.439
 Um,

00:14:57.439 --> 00:14:59.600
 and that's,

00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:00.659
 and that's why Rahab,

00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.919
 even though she lives in Jericho,

00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:03.579
 uh,

00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:03.819
 is,

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.299
 is spared.

00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:04.819
 Um,

00:15:05.179 --> 00:15:08.099
 now that still doesn't,

00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:09.539
 I don't mean to say that so that

00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.779
 we're no longer uncomfortable

00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:12.199
 with what goes on in the book of Joshua.

00:15:12.199 --> 00:15:14.219
 According to the UN definition of genocide,

00:15:14.219 --> 00:15:15.839
 it's still genocide going on in this book.

00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:16.639
 Uh,

00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:17.859
 it's just not based on ethnicity.

00:15:17.859 --> 00:15:18.559
 It's based on,

00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.120
 on religious affiliation.

00:15:20.219 --> 00:15:21.000
 It's still chilling,

00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:22.439
 but we should at least get straight

00:15:22.439 --> 00:15:23.559
 what is going on in this book.

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:25.699
 It's not that God hates these ethnic groups.

00:15:26.219 --> 00:15:26.539
 Um,

00:15:26.699 --> 00:15:30.699
 and as we look back on Rahab

00:15:30.699 --> 00:15:32.120
 in the book of Joshua as a Christian,

00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:33.179
 um,

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:39.919
 she is one of the very few women mentioned specifically in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1.

00:15:40.699 --> 00:15:41.139
 Uh,

00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:43.959
 so as we look back on Joshua,

00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:47.059
 we can find a seed of messianic hope,

00:15:47.579 --> 00:15:48.000
 uh,

00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:50.139
 even in the morass of violence in this book.

00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:51.219
 Um,

00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.439
 even,

00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:55.199
 even though there's a lot in this book that makes us uneasy,

00:15:55.199 --> 00:15:56.199
 uh,

00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:57.919
 that might horrify us.

00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:58.919
 Nevertheless,

00:15:59.539 --> 00:15:59.939
 uh,

00:16:00.599 --> 00:16:01.740
 God is,

00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:02.839
 is working,

00:16:03.339 --> 00:16:03.819
 uh,

00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:06.139
 working in the midst of this situation.

00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:06.740
 Uh,

00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:07.000
 and,

00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:09.759
 and even in the midst of this situation,

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.479
 we have Rahab,

00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.199
 who is,

00:16:11.199 --> 00:16:11.839
 uh,

00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:13.899
 an ancestor to Messiah,

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:14.799
 um,

00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:15.620
 the,

00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:16.659
 the savior of the world.

00:16:16.959 --> 00:16:17.399
 Um,

00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:17.620
 and,

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:19.059
 and Matthew makes sure that we know that.

00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:19.459
 Um,

00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:23.259
 but that,

00:16:23.359 --> 00:16:25.159
 that is really the broad overview of the book.

00:16:25.199 --> 00:16:26.279
 It starts out with,

00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:26.919
 uh,

00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:29.099
 the first 13 chapters or so,

00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:31.559
 all about battles and taking the land.

00:16:31.959 --> 00:16:32.439
 Then,

00:16:32.439 --> 00:16:33.139
 um,

00:16:33.939 --> 00:16:35.059
 uh,

00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:36.279
 dividing up the land.

00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:37.159
 Um,

00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:37.539
 you know,

00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:39.339
 when you do your Bible in a year plans,

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.619
 that's usually where you,

00:16:40.619 --> 00:16:42.459
 you peter out in Joshua because it's,

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.159
 uh,

00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:44.839
 it's almost like surveying data.

00:16:45.319 --> 00:16:45.759
 Um,

00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:47.980
 um,

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:49.659
 but then,

00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:50.379
 and then at the end,

00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:50.899
 there's a,

00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:52.919
 a reaffirmation of the covenant.

00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:53.939
 Um,

00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:57.439
 but then now that,

00:16:57.559 --> 00:17:02.360
 that question from the beginning of how do we make sense of this as a Christian needs to come back on the table.

00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:03.059
 Um,

00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:05.740
 how,

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:07.119
 how do we understand Joshua,

00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:07.960
 uh,

00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:08.180
 and,

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:10.720
 and particularly the violence in this book,

00:17:11.159 --> 00:17:11.619
 uh,

00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:12.279
 as a Christian?

00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:14.500
 Because it's,

00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:17.640
 it's not just our sort of 20 or 21st century,

00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:18.600
 uh,

00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:21.400
 Western inclinations against,

00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:22.000
 you know,

00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:22.820
 war,

00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:24.019
 uh,

00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:24.740
 that,

00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:26.580
 that make us feel uncomfortable with this book.

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:27.400
 Uh,

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.140
 rather we,

00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:30.060
 we can look at the words of Jesus.

00:17:30.060 --> 00:17:31.279
 You have heard that it was said,

00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:32.960
 you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:34.080
 But I say to you,

00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:38.500
 love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of your father who is in heaven.

00:17:39.060 --> 00:17:41.000
 There is an incongruity just within the text,

00:17:41.300 --> 00:17:41.540
 uh,

00:17:41.540 --> 00:17:42.720
 between the violence in Joshua,

00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.519
 and,

00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:44.180
 and,

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:44.660
 uh,

00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:45.660
 the words of Jesus,

00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:48.620
 or at least what appears on the face of it to be an incongruity.

00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:49.660
 Um,

00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:52.940
 so how do we make sense of this book in light of Christ?

00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:54.559
 Um,

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.140
 first,

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:58.559
 I think we need to recognize what Joshua is not.

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.059
 Uh,

00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:00.039
 I'd already mentioned this,

00:18:00.100 --> 00:18:02.900
 but this command for this particular kind of warfare,

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:03.680
 uh,

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:06.700
 of devoting everything to utter destruction.

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:10.140
 It's not a generalized perpetual command,

00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:11.120
 um,

00:18:11.120 --> 00:18:11.720
 for Israel.

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:12.600
 Uh,

00:18:12.600 --> 00:18:14.259
 it certainly is not a command for us.

00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.100
 Uh,

00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:21.180
 but it isn't even a command for Israel in all of their wars throughout the history of ancient Israel.

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:21.980
 Um,

00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:22.080
 um,

00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:24.319
 Deuteronomy chapter 20 has,

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:24.839
 uh,

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.819
 a bunch of laws,

00:18:26.159 --> 00:18:26.599
 uh,

00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:27.579
 concerning warfare.

00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:28.599
 Um,

00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:28.839
 how,

00:18:28.919 --> 00:18:30.460
 how is Israel supposed to wage war?

00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:32.440
 And the first half of it,

00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:33.319
 you have,

00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.039
 um,

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:36.519
 a whole bunch of regulations about war.

00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:36.819
 Like,

00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:37.299
 well,

00:18:37.360 --> 00:18:37.539
 if,

00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:37.880
 if,

00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:38.220
 uh,

00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.519
 a soldier in,

00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:41.279
 in the war recently got married,

00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.059
 uh,

00:18:42.100 --> 00:18:42.319
 well,

00:18:42.840 --> 00:18:43.200
 don't,

00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:43.940
 don't have him fight,

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.380
 have him go home and enjoy,

00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:45.759
 you know,

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:45.980
 his,

00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:46.680
 his new marriage.

00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:47.620
 Um,

00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:49.600
 things like that.

00:18:49.600 --> 00:18:51.180
 Or if you come to a city and,

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:51.400
 and,

00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:52.200
 and besiege it,

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.779
 offer terms of peace to it.

00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:55.120
 Uh,

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.840
 this is how it ordinarily,

00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:59.500
 in almost every war that Israel ever fights,

00:18:59.620 --> 00:19:00.440
 that's how it ordinarily goes.

00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:02.460
 And we have this specific,

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.200
 uh,

00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:04.480
 and then the latter half of that chapter,

00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:06.660
 you have this specific command for these,

00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:09.059
 this one moment in Israelite history,

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.900
 uh,

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.660
 in the book of Joshua.

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:11.700
 Um,

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.700
 it's unique.

00:19:12.840 --> 00:19:14.160
 It is never to be repeated.

00:19:15.100 --> 00:19:15.460
 Um,

00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.740
 so I,

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.440
 I started out,

00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:17.819
 that,

00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:20.079
 that's why I almost didn't start with these two stories

00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.920
 and one of them about ISIS in Mosul.

00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:22.779
 Um,

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.660
 because this is actually the key difference,

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:26.000
 or one of the,

00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:27.539
 I think the biggest key difference

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:30.440
 between what is going on in the book of Joshua

00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:34.000
 and religious violence that we see around the world today.

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.000
 Um,

00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:37.100
 in the perverted ideology of ISIS,

00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:40.360
 there is a perpetual war between them

00:19:40.360 --> 00:19:42.940
 and everyone they perceive to be the enemies of Islam.

00:19:43.600 --> 00:19:44.160
 Um,

00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:44.819
 which,

00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:45.460
 ironically,

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.860
 includes a lot of Muslims,

00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:48.539
 um,

00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.019
 at any rate.

00:19:49.199 --> 00:19:49.459
 Um,

00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:52.079
 but,

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.939
 this is a one-time thing

00:19:53.939 --> 00:19:55.079
 in Israel's history.

00:19:55.179 --> 00:19:56.919
 Christians have killed Christians too,

00:19:57.159 --> 00:19:57.659
 ironically.

00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:58.319
 Yeah.

00:19:58.679 --> 00:19:59.119
 Yeah.

00:19:59.279 --> 00:19:59.719
 Yeah.

00:19:59.759 --> 00:19:59.879
 I,

00:19:59.899 --> 00:20:01.179
 I don't mean to cover over that.

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:01.519
 Absolutely.

00:20:01.939 --> 00:20:02.299
 Absolutely.

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:03.779
 Um,

00:20:04.159 --> 00:20:06.799
 so that's one thing we need to recognize

00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.859
 that Joshua is not,

00:20:08.179 --> 00:20:08.419
 uh,

00:20:08.419 --> 00:20:09.019
 this is not,

00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:09.899
 uh,

00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:11.880
 this is not,

00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:12.160
 uh,

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:14.700
 a command to go start a crusade

00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.120
 and,

00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:15.460
 and say,

00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:16.019
 Deus volt,

00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:16.720
 God wills it.

00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:17.240
 No,

00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:17.680
 no,

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.019
 it's not,

00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:18.560
 it's not.

00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:19.620
 Um,

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.480
 and also,

00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:22.480
 our horror at the book of Joshua

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.360
 is not something new.

00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:24.600
 Um,

00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:26.380
 this isn't something we just realized

00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:27.800
 in the last generation or two

00:20:27.800 --> 00:20:28.820
 is chilling.

00:20:29.540 --> 00:20:29.980
 Rather,

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.200
 this is something that Christians

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:32.040
 from very,

00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:32.880
 very early on

00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:33.560
 have recognized

00:20:33.560 --> 00:20:34.100
 is,

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:35.259
 is an incongruity

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:35.720
 in,

00:20:35.840 --> 00:20:36.580
 in scripture.

00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.859
 Um,

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:39.220
 and we have inherited

00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:40.559
 from generations of Christians

00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:42.179
 different ways of,

00:20:42.179 --> 00:20:43.059
 of addressing

00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:43.740
 this,

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:44.939
 this tension in the text.

00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:45.899
 Um,

00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:47.460
 so,

00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:48.720
 let's look at some of those.

00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:49.759
 Um,

00:20:50.159 --> 00:20:50.859
 but before,

00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.699
 before we do that,

00:20:51.939 --> 00:20:52.439
 uh,

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.619
 I should stop for a moment.

00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:54.199
 Uh,

00:20:54.199 --> 00:20:54.859
 are there any questions

00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.740
 or concerns

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.519
 so far?

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.279
 Yeah,

00:21:00.439 --> 00:21:00.619
 Sam?

00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.419
 I guess,

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.000
 like,

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.000
 in 1 Samuel,

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.559
 for example,

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.019
 like,

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.519
 uh,

00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.579
 when God mansalts

00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:06.000
 the,

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.559
 um,

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:07.599
 uh,

00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:08.139
 to,

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.819
 to kill,

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.359
 um,

00:21:09.419 --> 00:21:09.839
 a God,

00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:10.159
 right?

00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:10.519
 Yeah.

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.699
 And destroy the city.

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.159
 Um,

00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:12.379
 like,

00:21:12.379 --> 00:21:12.500
 like,

00:21:12.699 --> 00:21:12.839
 so,

00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:13.759
 so there are examples

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.439
 after Joshua

00:21:14.439 --> 00:21:15.740
 where there is the,

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.759
 the complete kind of,

00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.000
 uh,

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:17.419
 destruction.

00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:18.339
 Um,

00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:18.699
 how,

00:21:18.699 --> 00:21:19.399
 how,

00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:20.220
 how would you square that

00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:20.480
 for,

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.099
 um,

00:21:21.199 --> 00:21:22.079
 this being like a one?

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:22.980
 Yeah.

00:21:23.199 --> 00:21:23.659
 Uh,

00:21:23.659 --> 00:21:24.319
 good question.

00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:25.919
 That is the only other,

00:21:26.159 --> 00:21:26.879
 yeah.

00:21:27.199 --> 00:21:27.559
 So,

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.119
 um,

00:21:28.419 --> 00:21:29.639
 there is this episode

00:21:29.639 --> 00:21:31.059
 in the life of King Saul,

00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:31.839
 uh,

00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:32.339
 where,

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.259
 um,

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.720
 Saul is supposed to devote

00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.399
 this,

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:35.899
 this,

00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.559
 um,

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:38.259
 Agagite,

00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:39.119
 or,

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:40.799
 is the king Agag?

00:21:40.879 --> 00:21:42.159
 I think so,

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:42.440
 yeah.

00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.159
 Hmm?

00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:43.579
 Hmm?

00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:45.859
 Um,

00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:46.960
 but this particular king,

00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:47.839
 uh,

00:21:47.879 --> 00:21:48.480
 to destruction,

00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.399
 and he instead takes him

00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:49.839
 as a prisoner,

00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.619
 uh,

00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.579
 and that is,

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.099
 uh,

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.179
 disobedient to God.

00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.119
 Um,

00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.119
 I would actually say

00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:55.859
 that's an extension

00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:56.700
 of this,

00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.919
 of this command.

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.159
 That,

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:58.359
 that,

00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:58.940
 I think that's how

00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.480
 it's framed

00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.960
 in the life of Saul.

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:01.599
 Um,

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:01.960
 so I'd say

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.619
 it's actually part of

00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:03.440
 the one and the same thing.

00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:04.259
 Um,

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:04.700
 yeah.

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:05.820
 Um,

00:22:05.820 --> 00:22:07.640
 I used to work for a rabbi

00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.420
 and he told me

00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.240
 that Rahab

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.100
 was,

00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:10.500
 uh,

00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.360
 a Hebrew,

00:22:11.360 --> 00:22:12.480
 was a Hebrew,

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:14.720
 a widowed wife

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:16.160
 of a merchant.

00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.660
 So that's why

00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:19.440
 she was saved

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.400
 as well as

00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.200
 helping the spies?

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.080
 Um,

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.519
 I think that

00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.039
 there's a sense

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:25.080
 in which she becomes

00:22:25.080 --> 00:22:26.500
 an Israelite.

00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.220
 She's sort of

00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.200
 adopted in,

00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.279
 uh,

00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:30.100
 because of her faith

00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:30.340
 in,

00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:33.639
 we don't see

00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:34.359
 anything in the text

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.279
 suggesting that.

00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:35.839
 So I,

00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:36.980
 I think that's interesting.

00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:38.419
 Yeah.

00:22:39.159 --> 00:22:39.679
 Uh,

00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:41.019
 it might be a later tradition,

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.480
 but Joshua doesn't

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:42.980
 tell us that.

00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:43.759
 So I'm not gonna,

00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:45.399
 I'm not gonna go along

00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:45.740
 with that.

00:22:46.459 --> 00:22:46.779
 Um,

00:22:47.399 --> 00:22:47.579
 yeah.

00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:48.759
 That's interesting.

00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.599
 I've never heard that before.

00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:50.539
 Um,

00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.059
 maybe,

00:22:52.399 --> 00:22:53.119
 maybe it's in Talmud

00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:53.459
 somewhere.

00:22:53.459 --> 00:22:53.819
 I,

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.879
 I don't know.

00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:55.740
 Um,

00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.419
 that's interesting.

00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.039
 Okay.

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:58.480
 So first,

00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.179
 some helpful,

00:22:59.180 --> 00:23:01.160
 but not quite sufficient.

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:01.960
 Some helpful,

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:02.779
 but not all the way,

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.380
 uh,

00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.779
 approaches to dealing

00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.299
 with the conquest

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.880
 as a Christian.

00:23:06.320 --> 00:23:06.759
 Um,

00:23:06.820 --> 00:23:07.519
 I mentioned these

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.360
 because I think,

00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:09.700
 I think these two approaches

00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.500
 are really popular.

00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.519
 Um,

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:13.140
 and I think they're helpful

00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:13.860
 to some extent.

00:23:14.380 --> 00:23:14.860
 Uh,

00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:16.420
 but I don't think

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:16.900
 they're,

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.660
 they go all the way.

00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.779
 So first,

00:23:19.100 --> 00:23:19.539
 um,

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.080
 this thing called

00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:20.820
 Marcionism.

00:23:20.820 --> 00:23:22.240
 It's named after this guy

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.180
 named Marcion.

00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.120
 Uh,

00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:25.420
 he was a second century,

00:23:25.560 --> 00:23:26.820
 so very early on,

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.120
 right?

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.340
 Second century,

00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.060
 uh,

00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:30.299
 Christian thinker.

00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:31.279
 Um,

00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:34.679
 and he saw this tension

00:23:34.679 --> 00:23:35.279
 in the text

00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.679
 and he said,

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:36.960
 well,

00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:38.159
 the God of the Old Testament

00:23:38.159 --> 00:23:39.700
 therefore is evil

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:41.359
 and a different God

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:41.839
 completely

00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.940
 than the God

00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.319
 and Father

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.440
 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.679
 Uh,

00:23:46.179 --> 00:23:46.519
 now,

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.720
 Ecclesiastes is right.

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.319
 There's nothing new

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:49.819
 under the sun.

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.359
 Uh,

00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.740
 you hear this kind of thing

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.339
 all the time

00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:52.859
 today.

00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:53.819
 Um,

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:56.859
 or even if it's not

00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:58.139
 explicitly stated

00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:58.659
 like that,

00:23:58.939 --> 00:24:00.039
 sometimes we will say,

00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:00.279
 well,

00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.259
 that's the Old Testament.

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.879
 We don't really care

00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:03.259
 about that.

00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:03.859
 What we care about

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.439
 is the New Testament,

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:04.960
 which is sort of

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.500
 the same thing.

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.339
 Uh,

00:24:06.419 --> 00:24:07.779
 so his,

00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.599
 his teaching

00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:10.119
 was quickly denounced

00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:11.200
 by his contemporaries

00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.779
 as,

00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:12.859
 as heresy,

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.599
 uh,

00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.460
 because Jesus said

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.119
 the whole Old Testament

00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:15.759
 is about himself.

00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:16.740
 So,

00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:17.619
 um,

00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:19.159
 we are indebted

00:24:19.159 --> 00:24:19.939
 to this,

00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:20.839
 this Marcion,

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:21.239
 uh,

00:24:21.239 --> 00:24:22.299
 the second century guy,

00:24:22.399 --> 00:24:23.059
 uh,

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:23.919
 for recognizing

00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:24.939
 and raising the concern

00:24:24.939 --> 00:24:25.879
 that there is,

00:24:26.199 --> 00:24:26.719
 uh,

00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:28.119
 there is an incongruity here,

00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:28.859
 um,

00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:29.239
 between,

00:24:29.239 --> 00:24:30.179
 uh,

00:24:30.219 --> 00:24:31.519
 the God of Canaanite conquest

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:33.979
 and the God of Jesus Christ.

00:24:34.459 --> 00:24:34.899
 Uh,

00:24:34.959 --> 00:24:36.339
 but his solution

00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:37.399
 is not viable,

00:24:37.399 --> 00:24:38.059
 um,

00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.799
 because Jesus said

00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.259
 the whole Bible

00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:39.799
 is about himself.

00:24:39.919 --> 00:24:40.159
 So,

00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:40.679
 we can't,

00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:41.519
 we can't go along with him.

00:24:42.219 --> 00:24:42.679
 Um,

00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:44.539
 and then some,

00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.319
 some Christians,

00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.039
 uh,

00:24:46.239 --> 00:24:46.879
 throughout history

00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:48.000
 and especially today

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.500
 I hear this,

00:24:48.840 --> 00:24:49.060
 uh,

00:24:49.060 --> 00:24:50.560
 approach the book of Joshua

00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:51.780
 using what's,

00:24:51.780 --> 00:24:52.260
 what's known as

00:24:52.260 --> 00:24:53.480
 divine command theory.

00:24:53.860 --> 00:24:54.320
 Um,

00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:54.680
 I,

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.660
 I pulled up this quote

00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:56.260
 from a blog

00:24:56.260 --> 00:24:57.260
 that describes it well.

00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:58.280
 Um,

00:24:58.420 --> 00:24:59.620
 our moral duties

00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:01.640
 are constituted

00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:02.880
 by the commands

00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.380
 of a holy and loving God.

00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:06.980
 Fair enough so far,

00:25:07.060 --> 00:25:07.200
 right?

00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:07.840
 But,

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:09.160
 since God doesn't issue

00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:10.140
 commands to himself,

00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:11.480
 he has no moral duties

00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.080
 to fulfill.

00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:14.180
 He is certainly not subject

00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:15.480
 to the same moral obligations

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.240
 and prohibitions

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.800
 that we are.

00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:17.940
 For example,

00:25:18.040 --> 00:25:18.780
 I have no right

00:25:18.780 --> 00:25:19.820
 to take an innocent life.

00:25:20.300 --> 00:25:20.980
 For me to do so

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.440
 would be murder.

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.700
 But God has no such prohibitions.

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.820
 He can give

00:25:24.820 --> 00:25:25.580
 and take life

00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:26.040
 as he chooses.

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:26.700
 God is under

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:28.120
 no obligation whatsoever

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:29.100
 to extend my life

00:25:29.100 --> 00:25:29.780
 for another second.

00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:30.980
 If he wants to strike me

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.520
 dead right now,

00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.300
 that's his prerogative.

00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:33.380
 And then he goes on

00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:33.740
 to say,

00:25:34.080 --> 00:25:35.140
 God has that prerogative

00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:36.340
 with the Canaanites

00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:36.660
 as well,

00:25:36.820 --> 00:25:37.880
 to kill them all

00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:38.860
 in a moment.

00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:40.060
 Uh,

00:25:40.060 --> 00:25:40.820
 so in that view,

00:25:41.300 --> 00:25:42.620
 if we're uneasy

00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:43.700
 about the Canaanite

00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.800
 genocide,

00:25:45.060 --> 00:25:46.800
 it's what it is,

00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:48.000
 by the UN definition.

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:49.600
 Uh,

00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.420
 we are actually

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.160
 in the wrong

00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.140
 and need to be corrected.

00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:53.040
 Uh,

00:25:53.040 --> 00:25:53.740
 in this view,

00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:54.980
 God is morally perfect

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.520
 and unquestionable

00:25:56.520 --> 00:25:57.880
 even when God

00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:58.680
 kills the innocent

00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.700
 because God

00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:01.540
 has no moral duties,

00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:03.079
 no moral obligations.

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.180
 Um,

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:07.480
 in the way that I framed that,

00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.519
 I've probably tipped my hand

00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:08.839
 how I,

00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:09.659
 how I feel about it.

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.319
 But there is,

00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.339
 there is a lot of good here.

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.139
 Uh,

00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:13.680
 having a heart that trusts,

00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.019
 I,

00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.700
 I think I've said something

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.639
 like this a couple of weeks ago

00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:17.159
 with Abraham

00:26:17.159 --> 00:26:18.039
 in Genesis 22.

00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:19.379
 Having a heart that trusts

00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:20.180
 God's commands,

00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.059
 uh,

00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:21.700
 and actions

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:23.059
 is a good thing.

00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:24.019
 Um,

00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.920
 there are commands of Jesus

00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:26.759
 that don't make sense

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.359
 to us sometimes.

00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:27.919
 Uh,

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:31.500
 whenever the gospel

00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.799
 intersects with the culture,

00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:33.839
 there are going to be things

00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.399
 in the culture

00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.759
 that the gospel affirms

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.259
 as good,

00:26:36.659 --> 00:26:37.159
 good,

00:26:37.219 --> 00:26:38.079
 and then also things

00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:39.779
 that the gospel rejects

00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:41.099
 as not quite right.

00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:42.099
 Um,

00:26:42.439 --> 00:26:43.459
 and,

00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.539
 there are things

00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:45.459
 in that latter category

00:26:45.459 --> 00:26:45.899
 that,

00:26:45.979 --> 00:26:47.279
 that don't make sense to us

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:47.519
 in,

00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:47.879
 in,

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.059
 in the teachings of the Lord.

00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.219
 Uh,

00:26:50.219 --> 00:26:51.539
 and it's good simply to trust

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.279
 that God knows better

00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:52.740
 than we do.

00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:53.639
 Um,

00:26:53.959 --> 00:26:54.240
 that,

00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:55.500
 that heart of,

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:57.019
 of trust and faith

00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.299
 is,

00:26:57.359 --> 00:26:58.400
 is a really good thing.

00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:59.859
 And this kind of perspective

00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:01.519
 of whatever God commands,

00:27:01.639 --> 00:27:02.799
 whatever God does is good

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:04.240
 simply because it's God

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:06.220
 fosters that kind of

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.019
 heart posture.

00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:07.660
 Uh,

00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.160
 and I do think

00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:08.519
 that,

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.259
 that's a good thing.

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.220
 Um,

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.379
 but then

00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:13.079
 there's also precedent

00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.639
 for us

00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:15.019
 to grapple with

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.740
 and question

00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.960
 God's actions,

00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:17.680
 God's justice.

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:18.779
 Um,

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:20.339
 I,

00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:21.519
 I'm afraid that this perspective

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.220
 can make us,

00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.180
 uh,

00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:25.160
 to put it perhaps provocatively,

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.759
 too deferential to God.

00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:27.740
 Um,

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.639
 because we have the,

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:28.859
 the,

00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:30.400
 we have the story of Abraham,

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.099
 uh,

00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:31.319
 in,

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.339
 in Genesis 18.

00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:34.319
 God says to,

00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:35.779
 to Abraham how he's going

00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:37.579
 to destroy the city of Sodom

00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:38.039
 completely.

00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:39.900
 Um,

00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:42.160
 and Abraham says in response,

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:43.559
 shall not the judge of all

00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:44.839
 the earth do what is just?

00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:47.759
 Abraham saying,

00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:49.579
 this seems really unjust,

00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.000
 God,

00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:50.200
 for,

00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.139
 for you to be killing

00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:53.139
 everyone in Sodom.

00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:53.599
 Are,

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.759
 are you going to kill the innocent

00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.379
 with the guilty?

00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.640
 Surely not.

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.039
 You know,

00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:57.879
 far be it from you,

00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:58.220
 God,

00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:58.420
 to,

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:58.879
 to do that.

00:27:59.539 --> 00:27:59.819
 Uh,

00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:01.619
 and that's our father Abraham

00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.220
 saying this.

00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:02.879
 Um,

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:06.799
 under divine command theory,

00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.180
 there's no,

00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:07.900
 there's no,

00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.839
 under this perspective

00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:10.000
 that we're talking about here,

00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:11.379
 there's no place for questioning

00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:12.680
 God's justice,

00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:14.259
 for grappling with God's justice.

00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.379
 Um,

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:16.900
 Abraham,

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.859
 under this perspective,

00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:18.839
 was wrong for,

00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:19.140
 for,

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:20.160
 for saying this to God.

00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:20.839
 Um,

00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:22.319
 but the text doesn't tell us that.

00:28:22.419 --> 00:28:23.299
 The text doesn't suggest

00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:24.459
 that Abraham was doing wrong there.

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:25.799
 Uh,

00:28:26.139 --> 00:28:27.839
 my concern is that a faith

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:29.059
 that does not permit questions

00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:30.619
 is not a faith that lasts very long.

00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:31.899
 Um,

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.000
 we need,

00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:33.980
 there needs to be a place

00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.199
 in,

00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:34.579
 in the,

00:28:34.659 --> 00:28:35.480
 in the spiritual life

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:37.079
 to really grapple

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.939
 with difficult things.

00:28:39.419 --> 00:28:40.059
 And also,

00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:41.199
 if we're made in God's image,

00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:42.279
 then our moral intuition

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.980
 is not to be completely discounted.

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.240
 Um,

00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.679
 we have

00:28:46.679 --> 00:28:48.179
 an intuition that genocide

00:28:48.179 --> 00:28:49.139
 is a bad thing.

00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:50.299
 That's a good intuition,

00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.419
 especially because it's,

00:28:51.419 --> 00:28:51.960
 it's reinforced

00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:53.000
 by the commands of Jesus.

00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:54.220
 Um,

00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:56.919
 and also,

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:57.639
 um,

00:28:59.319 --> 00:28:59.960
 non-Christians

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:01.200
 share this intuition of ours.

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.139
 It's moral law.

00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:03.740
 It's written into everybody's heart.

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.180
 Exactly.

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:04.819
 Yeah.

00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:05.460
 You shall not kill.

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.139
 Exactly.

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:06.899
 Exactly.

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:07.460
 Right.

00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:08.379
 Uh,

00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.119
 so,

00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:09.500
 the,

00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.180
 the guy who,

00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:10.599
 who,

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.079
 um,

00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:13.039
 that quote that I pulled

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.319
 is,

00:29:13.379 --> 00:29:14.919
 is from this Christian apologist

00:29:14.919 --> 00:29:15.279
 who's,

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.680
 who's somewhat well-known.

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.059
 Uh,

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.680
 I knew about him

00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:18.500
 before I was a Christian.

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:19.680
 Uh,

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:22.400
 and that perspective

00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:24.360
 of his really turns people away

00:29:24.360 --> 00:29:25.380
 from considering

00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:26.480
 the Christian faith.

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.279
 Um,

00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:29.220
 so on a sort of practical evangelistic

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:29.880
 kind of a,

00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:30.560
 kind of a note,

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.420
 uh,

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:32.860
 we,

00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:33.380
 we should

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:34.779
 affirm

00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:36.279
 when non-Christians

00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:36.840
 have

00:29:36.840 --> 00:29:38.019
 a moral intuition

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:39.180
 that is in line

00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:39.740
 with the gospel

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.160
 and,

00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:41.019
 and not try to,

00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.600
 to say,

00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.220
 actually,

00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:43.680
 everything that God does

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.360
 is just

00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:45.759
 even when it seems

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.639
 like it's unjust.

00:29:47.219 --> 00:29:47.579
 Um,

00:29:48.419 --> 00:29:49.339
 we,

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.699
 we should,

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.519
 we should affirm

00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:52.179
 someone's disgusted

00:29:52.179 --> 00:29:52.859
 something like

00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:54.579
 the Canaanite conquest.

00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:55.419
 Um,

00:29:55.479 --> 00:29:58.439
 okay.

00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:59.399
 So,

00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:01.000
 I'll stop for,

00:30:01.139 --> 00:30:01.939
 for questions

00:30:01.939 --> 00:30:02.839
 because that was perhaps

00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.579
 a little heavy.

00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:04.579
 Um,

00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.339
 so,

00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:06.979
 yeah.

00:30:06.979 --> 00:30:07.399
 Um,

00:30:07.399 --> 00:30:07.659
 um,

00:30:08.179 --> 00:30:08.459
 um,

00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:09.579
 um,

00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:10.319
 um,

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.039
 um,

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.099
 I,

00:30:11.099 --> 00:30:11.319
 I,

00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:12.139
 I wonder if,

00:30:12.139 --> 00:30:13.419
 if one casts

00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:14.880
 this,

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.440
 um,

00:30:15.800 --> 00:30:17.240
 uh,

00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.140
 this,

00:30:18.320 --> 00:30:19.160
 this view,

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.800
 divine command

00:30:20.800 --> 00:30:21.680
 theory,

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.340
 in such a way

00:30:23.340 --> 00:30:24.500
 that

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.900
 one thinks

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:27.259
 that God

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.160
 could simply

00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:30.180
 assert things,

00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.279
 moral things,

00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.700
 arbitrarily.

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:33.960
 Uh,

00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:34.440
 I,

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:35.100
 I don't think

00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:35.460
 that that,

00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:36.300
 and that's,

00:30:36.300 --> 00:30:36.500
 that's,

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.400
 oh my goodness,

00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:39.100
 this bears no relation

00:30:39.100 --> 00:30:40.400
 to our moral intuitions

00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:40.740
 at all.

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.180
 It cuts completely

00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:42.960
 against the grain

00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:44.100
 of our moral intuitions.

00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.039
 Uh,

00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:45.920
 I don't,

00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:46.880
 I don't think

00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.680
 that that's what,

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.440
 at least with John

00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:49.740
 Hare and some

00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.200
 of the foremost

00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:51.059
 proponents of this,

00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:51.880
 uh,

00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:55.019
 because God's commands

00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:55.880
 are tied up

00:30:55.880 --> 00:30:57.660
 with his will

00:30:57.660 --> 00:30:58.779
 and his character.

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.259
 Uh,

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.660
 so,

00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:01.779
 it's not as if

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.440
 they're going to be

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.079
 anything that's

00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:04.140
 completely arbitrary.

00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:04.620
 In fact,

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.799
 they will always be

00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.440
 in line with

00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:07.779
 his perfect righteousness

00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.799
 and perfect holiness.

00:31:09.620 --> 00:31:09.980
 Uh,

00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.680
 so,

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.860
 this sense

00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:13.360
 of arbitrariness

00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:15.539
 wouldn't,

00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.759
 wouldn't really fit.

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.420
 Uh,

00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:18.299
 so,

00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.840
 and,

00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:20.299
 um,

00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:22.039
 I think we're,

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:22.860
 we're going to be

00:31:22.860 --> 00:31:23.539
 inclined to be

00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.400
 suspicious

00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:25.920
 of anything

00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.420
 that doesn't go

00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:27.200
 with our intuitions

00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.680
 anyway.

00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.440
 So,

00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:29.019
 as Christians,

00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:29.820
 I do think

00:31:29.820 --> 00:31:30.140
 that we,

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.980
 we do want

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.920
 to be inclined

00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:32.660
 to be more

00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.340
 suspicious

00:31:33.340 --> 00:31:35.920
 of our own

00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.740
 moral instincts

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:38.299
 than the clear

00:31:38.299 --> 00:31:39.180
 commands of God.

00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.500
 Uh,

00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:41.080
 I'm afraid

00:31:41.080 --> 00:31:42.060
 it turns

00:31:42.060 --> 00:31:42.620
 the sail

00:31:42.620 --> 00:31:43.160
 into the wind

00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:43.940
 of this culture

00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:45.980
 to give them

00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:47.680
 even more reason

00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:50.039
 to be suspicious

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:50.940
 of God's

00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:52.560
 clear commands.

00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:53.720
 Uh,

00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.400
 and,

00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:54.759
 and,

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.080
 uh,

00:31:55.080 --> 00:31:55.480
 you,

00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:56.539
 you helpfully

00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:57.519
 and rightly say,

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.220
 uh,

00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:58.680
 well,

00:31:58.900 --> 00:31:59.200
 gee,

00:32:00.100 --> 00:32:00.360
 we,

00:32:00.420 --> 00:32:00.960
 we ought not

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.420
 to be too

00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:02.700
 deferential to God.

00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:03.640
 Um,

00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:04.820
 yes,

00:32:04.860 --> 00:32:05.640
 he invites us

00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.960
 graciously to process,

00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:08.680
 and he indulges

00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.819
 us for the sins.

00:32:10.340 --> 00:32:11.180
 But at the end

00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:11.799
 of the day,

00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.840
 they're right.

00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:15.140
 The,

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:16.120
 the God of the universe

00:32:16.120 --> 00:32:17.360
 will always do right.

00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:18.480
 And if we don't

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.640
 see it as right,

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:21.319
 then that is our

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:22.140
 moral failure.

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.079
 And,

00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:24.360
 and,

00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:25.140
 it might be,

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:26.340
 there will certainly

00:32:26.340 --> 00:32:27.460
 need to be a process,

00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:28.960
 but that's a process

00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:29.660
 that's part of our

00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:30.299
 sanctification.

00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:31.380
 Hmm.

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.400
 He says,

00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:32.720
 it is,

00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.380
 my thoughts

00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:34.140
 aren't your thoughts,

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.680
 my ways

00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.519
 aren't your ways.

00:32:35.600 --> 00:32:35.740
 Yeah.

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.380
 So,

00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:36.680
 I,

00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:37.220
 I certainly,

00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.079
 uh,

00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:40.140
 this is not,

00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.279
 what,

00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:41.900
 what I put here

00:32:41.900 --> 00:32:42.019
 is,

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:43.539
 is almost certainly,

00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:43.819
 I,

00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.420
 yeah,

00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.140
 it's not the best

00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:46.259
 representation of

00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:47.079
 this divine command

00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:47.339
 theory.

00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:48.059
 It's the sort of

00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:48.799
 street level,

00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:49.599
 what you see on the

00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:49.819
 street.

00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:50.779
 Um,

00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:51.460
 but John Hare

00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.940
 is brilliant.

00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:53.779
 Uh,

00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:54.019
 yeah.

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.039
 Um,

00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:55.859
 yeah.

00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:56.960
 Yeah.

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:57.380
 I,

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:57.660
 I,

00:32:57.660 --> 00:32:59.359
 I would want to be

00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:00.579
 careful not to suggest

00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:02.180
 that someone who is

00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:03.400
 grappling with,

00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:04.839
 with something like

00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:05.640
 the Canaanite conquest

00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:08.759
 is morally failing.

00:33:09.700 --> 00:33:10.220
 Absolutely.

00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:10.640
 Yeah.

00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:11.340
 Um,

00:33:11.800 --> 00:33:12.240
 so,

00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:13.680
 that's something I'm

00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.480
 very careful about.

00:33:14.560 --> 00:33:14.740
 Sure.

00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:15.180
 Um,

00:33:15.280 --> 00:33:15.980
 but I might,

00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:17.080
 this might just be

00:33:17.080 --> 00:33:18.140
 because I'm this

00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:20.020
 21st century postmodern

00:33:20.020 --> 00:33:20.540
 millennial,

00:33:20.540 --> 00:33:21.700
 uh,

00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:22.819
 who only came to faith

00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:23.840
 like five years ago

00:33:23.840 --> 00:33:25.539
 and maybe I am

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.460
 morally failing.

00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:26.900
 That,

00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:27.720
 that is actually,

00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:28.000
 no,

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:28.200
 I'm,

00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:28.900
 I'm serious though.

00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:29.680
 Um,

00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:29.960
 yeah.

00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:32.460
 I have no problem

00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:32.799
 with,

00:33:32.920 --> 00:33:33.160
 uh,

00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:33.920
 what you say,

00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.779
 you're outraged by the,

00:33:34.860 --> 00:33:35.860
 I'm not out,

00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:36.840
 I'm outraged by what

00:33:36.840 --> 00:33:37.779
 ISIS is doing.

00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:38.180
 Yeah.

00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:39.680
 And about what the

00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:40.660
 Khmer Rouge did

00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:42.039
 and what the Nazis did,

00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:43.680
 but I'm not offended

00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:44.960
 at what Joshua did

00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.879
 to the Canaanites

00:33:45.879 --> 00:33:47.059
 because it was

00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:48.359
 God telling him

00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:49.039
 what to do.

00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:49.659
 Yeah.

00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:50.379
 And part of my hope

00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:50.940
 for this morning

00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:51.960
 by putting those two

00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:52.659
 stories at the beginning

00:33:52.659 --> 00:33:53.579
 together is that

00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:55.019
 I would rattle some cages

00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:55.639
 and say,

00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.180
 actually,

00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:57.559
 maybe we should be

00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.399
 outraged about this

00:33:58.399 --> 00:33:58.920
 a little bit.

00:33:59.099 --> 00:33:59.879
 Maybe we should at least

00:33:59.879 --> 00:34:00.579
 see that this is

00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:01.579
 something very uncomfortable.

00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:02.680
 Um,

00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:03.759
 yeah.

00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:05.339
 Because there isn't,

00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.639
 on the face of it,

00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:08.460
 nothing really all that

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.420
 different between

00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:10.980
 what the Nazis

00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:12.000
 or what ISIS is doing

00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:13.099
 and what Joshua does.

00:34:13.099 --> 00:34:13.820
 The Israelites

00:34:13.820 --> 00:34:15.019
 deserve to die

00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:16.180
 and the Canaanites

00:34:16.180 --> 00:34:17.119
 deserve to die.

00:34:17.700 --> 00:34:18.579
 And the whole generation

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.519
 that before they went

00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.619
 into the promised land,

00:34:20.720 --> 00:34:21.760
 they all died off.

00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.400
 God has no problem.

00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.380
 He's impartial.

00:34:26.200 --> 00:34:27.420
 He's not respect

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.059
 to other persons.

00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:29.659
 We all deserve to die.

00:34:30.700 --> 00:34:30.840
 Yeah.

00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.000
 And that is a good note

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.420
 as well,

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:32.760
 that,

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.260
 um,

00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:35.480
 just as God

00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:39.400
 drives the Canaanites

00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:40.340
 out of the land.

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.380
 Uh,

00:34:42.280 --> 00:34:42.559
 you know,

00:34:42.579 --> 00:34:43.760
 several generations later,

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.539
 God turns around

00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:44.860
 and said,

00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:45.240
 actually,

00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:45.680
 Israel,

00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:46.780
 now you're just as bad

00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:47.340
 as they were.

00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:48.599
 I'm going to turn around

00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.860
 and use Assyria

00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:50.659
 and Babylon

00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:51.539
 to drive you

00:34:51.539 --> 00:34:52.079
 out of the land.

00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:52.980
 Uh,

00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:53.579
 so yeah,

00:34:53.700 --> 00:34:53.860
 that,

00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.280
 that is,

00:34:54.380 --> 00:34:55.380
 that is a good note.

00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.320
 God is no respecter

00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:57.360
 of persons.

00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.119
 Uh,

00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.320
 that,

00:34:58.420 --> 00:34:58.900
 that's got to be

00:34:58.900 --> 00:34:59.659
 a King James

00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:00.980
 idiom,

00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:01.400
 isn't it?

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:02.559
 At any rate.

00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:03.880
 Okay.

00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:04.300
 Yes.

00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:05.360
 Just a question.

00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:06.300
 How would we deal

00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:06.780
 with this

00:35:06.780 --> 00:35:08.400
 if we as Christians

00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:08.840
 were,

00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:10.800
 instructed to follow

00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:12.120
 these same instructions

00:35:12.120 --> 00:35:12.539
 today?

00:35:13.160 --> 00:35:13.400
 Uh,

00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.220
 I wouldn't be a Christian.

00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.760
 It wouldn't happen.

00:35:16.160 --> 00:35:16.320
 Yeah.

00:35:16.340 --> 00:35:16.800
 It can't happen.

00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:17.380
 Uh,

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:17.720
 if,

00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:18.780
 if we were instructed

00:35:18.780 --> 00:35:19.620
 to do these same

00:35:19.620 --> 00:35:20.300
 things today,

00:35:20.300 --> 00:35:20.900
 then,

00:35:21.180 --> 00:35:22.740
 if that were the case,

00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:24.079
 then the Christian faith

00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:24.579
 would be evil.

00:35:24.760 --> 00:35:25.660
 It's not the case.

00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:26.480
 The Christian faith

00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:27.039
 is not evil,

00:35:27.180 --> 00:35:27.700
 but,

00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:28.140
 yeah.

00:35:28.140 --> 00:35:28.920
 We have his final

00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.559
 testament.

00:35:30.140 --> 00:35:30.820
 There isn't any

00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:31.660
 extra words.

00:35:32.240 --> 00:35:32.480
 The,

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:32.700
 the,

00:35:32.700 --> 00:35:33.579
 the climactic

00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:35.960
 revelation of God.

00:35:35.960 --> 00:35:37.159
 the,

00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:37.420
 the,

00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.579
 the clearest picture

00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:39.840
 of who God is,

00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.760
 is Jesus.

00:35:41.699 --> 00:35:42.179
 Jesus,

00:35:42.179 --> 00:35:43.519
 who was utterly

00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:44.139
 nonviolent.

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:44.740
 Jesus,

00:35:45.019 --> 00:35:45.240
 who,

00:35:45.740 --> 00:35:46.400
 rather than call

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.340
 in angel armies

00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:48.320
 to defeat the Romans

00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:49.440
 who were crucifying him,

00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:49.920
 said,

00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:50.179
 Father,

00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:50.699
 forgive them.

00:35:50.740 --> 00:35:51.099
 They don't know

00:35:51.099 --> 00:35:51.579
 what they're doing.

00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:52.800
 Um,

00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:54.720
 so,

00:35:55.060 --> 00:35:56.140
 no command like this

00:35:56.140 --> 00:35:56.340
 would,

00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:57.220
 would come now.

00:35:58.060 --> 00:35:58.500
 Yeah.

00:35:59.180 --> 00:35:59.600
 Um,

00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.420
 I,

00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:00.920
 I do,

00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:02.180
 I do want to get to

00:36:02.180 --> 00:36:03.140
 what I think are

00:36:03.140 --> 00:36:03.740
 some really

00:36:03.740 --> 00:36:04.800
 much more helpful

00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:05.800
 perspectives on,

00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:06.120
 on,

00:36:06.519 --> 00:36:06.640
 I,

00:36:06.680 --> 00:36:07.340
 I want to land on

00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:08.000
 something positive

00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.660
 rather than

00:36:08.660 --> 00:36:09.740
 just saying maybe

00:36:09.740 --> 00:36:10.580
 this isn't quite

00:36:10.580 --> 00:36:10.960
 sufficient.

00:36:11.720 --> 00:36:12.039
 Um,

00:36:12.200 --> 00:36:13.800
 okay,

00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:14.480
 so we already

00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:15.200
 alluded to this.

00:36:15.580 --> 00:36:15.860
 Uh,

00:36:16.080 --> 00:36:16.900
 the conquest is

00:36:16.900 --> 00:36:17.500
 divine judgment.

00:36:18.180 --> 00:36:18.620
 Uh,

00:36:18.680 --> 00:36:19.240
 this is,

00:36:19.300 --> 00:36:19.640
 I think,

00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:20.380
 uh,

00:36:20.740 --> 00:36:21.720
 the,

00:36:21.800 --> 00:36:22.380
 the,

00:36:22.380 --> 00:36:23.519
 the Old Testament's

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:24.119
 own perspective

00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:24.760
 on,

00:36:24.840 --> 00:36:25.200
 on,

00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:25.860
 um,

00:36:26.700 --> 00:36:27.300
 on what's going

00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:27.920
 on in Joshua.

00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:29.460
 Uh,

00:36:30.079 --> 00:36:31.280
 in Deuteronomy,

00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:31.820
 uh,

00:36:31.820 --> 00:36:32.280
 I have a footnote.

00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:33.300
 In Deuteronomy 9,

00:36:33.619 --> 00:36:34.000
 uh,

00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:35.760
 Moses says,

00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.579
 not because of

00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:37.360
 your righteousness

00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:38.840
 or the uprightness

00:36:38.840 --> 00:36:39.700
 of your heart

00:36:39.700 --> 00:36:40.500
 are you going in

00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:41.460
 to possess their land,

00:36:42.019 --> 00:36:42.579
 but because of

00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:43.180
 the wickedness

00:36:43.180 --> 00:36:43.880
 of these nations,

00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:44.640
 the Lord your God

00:36:44.640 --> 00:36:45.240
 is driving them

00:36:45.240 --> 00:36:46.059
 out from before you.

00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:47.440
 Um,

00:36:47.640 --> 00:36:50.320
 God is using Israel

00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:51.039
 as an agent

00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:52.220
 of divine,

00:36:52.380 --> 00:36:52.740
 judgment.

00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:54.300
 Uh,

00:36:54.539 --> 00:36:57.180
 just as,

00:36:57.300 --> 00:36:58.019
 as I already

00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:58.360
 mentioned,

00:36:58.760 --> 00:36:59.559
 just as God

00:36:59.559 --> 00:37:00.440
 will later on

00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.360
 use Assyria

00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:01.960
 and Babylon

00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:03.000
 as an agent

00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.860
 of divine judgment

00:37:03.860 --> 00:37:04.840
 against Israel,

00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:05.460
 which we'll talk

00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:06.220
 about in a few weeks.

00:37:06.720 --> 00:37:07.059
 Um,

00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:09.920
 so Leviticus 20

00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:10.700
 suggests that

00:37:10.700 --> 00:37:11.140
 the worship

00:37:11.140 --> 00:37:11.760
 of Moloch,

00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:12.079
 uh,

00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:12.880
 an Ammonite God

00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:14.420
 included child sacrifice.

00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:15.440
 That's pretty chilling.

00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:16.200
 Child sacrifice

00:37:16.200 --> 00:37:17.220
 is incredibly rare

00:37:17.220 --> 00:37:18.059
 in the ancient world

00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:19.019
 because children,

00:37:19.160 --> 00:37:19.920
 you invest a lot

00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:20.220
 in them,

00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:20.519
 right?

00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:20.900
 The parents

00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:21.619
 in the room now.

00:37:21.619 --> 00:37:22.380
 Um,

00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:25.159
 child sacrifices

00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:26.699
 is an unbelievably

00:37:26.699 --> 00:37:27.480
 evil thing,

00:37:27.659 --> 00:37:27.839
 even,

00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:28.799
 even within the context

00:37:28.799 --> 00:37:29.380
 of the ancient world.

00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:30.480
 It just doesn't happen.

00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:31.299
 Um,

00:37:31.420 --> 00:37:34.059
 and yet,

00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:34.960
 it seems,

00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.679
 uh,

00:37:35.679 --> 00:37:36.420
 if we are to believe

00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:36.960
 Leviticus,

00:37:37.139 --> 00:37:37.980
 the word of God,

00:37:38.299 --> 00:37:38.819
 um,

00:37:38.859 --> 00:37:39.500
 that the worship

00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:40.000
 of Moloch

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:41.039
 included that.

00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:42.519
 Um,

00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:45.920
 and so if this is

00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:48.059
 God's judgment

00:37:48.059 --> 00:37:49.320
 against the Canaanites

00:37:49.320 --> 00:37:51.880
 and we're horrified

00:37:51.880 --> 00:37:52.360
 at that,

00:37:52.659 --> 00:37:55.400
 then as challenging

00:37:55.400 --> 00:37:56.739
 as this is to say,

00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:58.380
 I think our response

00:37:58.380 --> 00:37:59.119
 ought to be,

00:37:59.119 --> 00:37:59.659
 uh,

00:37:59.719 --> 00:38:00.119
 remembering

00:38:00.119 --> 00:38:01.639
 that Jesus says

00:38:01.639 --> 00:38:02.139
 he will judge

00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:02.739
 the whole world

00:38:02.739 --> 00:38:03.539
 at his return.

00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:04.320
 Um,

00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:05.039
 as we say

00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:06.000
 in the Nicene Creed,

00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:06.759
 he will come again

00:38:06.759 --> 00:38:07.659
 in glory to judge

00:38:07.659 --> 00:38:08.639
 the living and the dead

00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:09.460
 and his kingdom

00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:10.239
 will have no end.

00:38:11.339 --> 00:38:11.739
 Um,

00:38:13.799 --> 00:38:13.980
 and,

00:38:14.099 --> 00:38:16.299
 God is not capricious

00:38:16.299 --> 00:38:17.099
 in his judgment.

00:38:17.699 --> 00:38:18.519
 It's not just that

00:38:18.519 --> 00:38:19.619
 God woke up one morning

00:38:19.619 --> 00:38:20.019
 and thought,

00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:21.139
 these Canaanites

00:38:21.139 --> 00:38:21.739
 are really getting

00:38:21.739 --> 00:38:22.460
 on my nerves.

00:38:23.460 --> 00:38:24.099
 I'm gonna,

00:38:24.199 --> 00:38:25.500
 I'm gonna have Israel

00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:26.019
 kill them all.

00:38:26.699 --> 00:38:27.019
 Uh,

00:38:27.019 --> 00:38:27.579
 no,

00:38:27.739 --> 00:38:28.400
 we're told,

00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:28.940
 uh,

00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:29.940
 in Genesis 15,

00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:31.159
 uh,

00:38:31.159 --> 00:38:32.779
 so God says to Abraham

00:38:32.779 --> 00:38:33.879
 in Genesis 15

00:38:33.879 --> 00:38:34.379
 that it would be

00:38:34.379 --> 00:38:35.379
 400 years

00:38:35.379 --> 00:38:36.799
 before his offspring

00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:38.460
 inherited this land.

00:38:39.379 --> 00:38:40.299
 One might wonder,

00:38:40.639 --> 00:38:41.659
 why 400 years?

00:38:41.940 --> 00:38:42.819
 Why not just give him

00:38:42.819 --> 00:38:43.500
 the land now?

00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:44.259
 Well,

00:38:44.299 --> 00:38:44.940
 God's rationale,

00:38:45.659 --> 00:38:46.019
 uh,

00:38:46.039 --> 00:38:46.199
 that,

00:38:46.279 --> 00:38:46.799
 that he says

00:38:46.799 --> 00:38:47.719
 in that chapter

00:38:47.719 --> 00:38:49.579
 is that the iniquity

00:38:49.579 --> 00:38:50.779
 of the Amorites

00:38:50.779 --> 00:38:52.099
 is not yet complete.

00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:54.900
 It seems that God

00:38:54.900 --> 00:38:56.920
 is patiently waiting

00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:57.799
 for centuries

00:38:57.799 --> 00:38:58.839
 with the hope

00:38:58.839 --> 00:38:59.259
 that,

00:38:59.259 --> 00:39:00.799
 that the Amorites,

00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:02.579
 one of the,

00:39:02.579 --> 00:39:02.900
 the,

00:39:02.900 --> 00:39:04.659
 one of the Canaanite groups,

00:39:05.099 --> 00:39:05.579
 um,

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:06.599
 would repent,

00:39:06.879 --> 00:39:07.879
 it seems.

00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:09.059
 uh,

00:39:09.159 --> 00:39:09.900
 400 years

00:39:09.900 --> 00:39:10.440
 of patience.

00:39:11.199 --> 00:39:11.579
 Um,

00:39:12.139 --> 00:39:14.099
 that,

00:39:14.179 --> 00:39:14.539
 that's,

00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:15.079
 to me,

00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:15.599
 uh,

00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:16.679
 a stunning picture

00:39:16.679 --> 00:39:17.159
 of,

00:39:17.219 --> 00:39:18.359
 of God's

00:39:18.359 --> 00:39:18.960
 long suffering.

00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:19.940
 Um,

00:39:20.239 --> 00:39:22.039
 and this is,

00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:23.039
 this is what we see

00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:24.079
 incidentally,

00:39:24.179 --> 00:39:24.859
 this is,

00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:25.480
 this is what God

00:39:25.480 --> 00:39:26.179
 is doing now too.

00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:26.900
 Um,

00:39:27.379 --> 00:39:28.199
 in 2nd Peter,

00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:29.119
 uh,

00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:29.699
 towards the end

00:39:29.699 --> 00:39:30.139
 of the letter,

00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:30.859
 Peter writes

00:39:30.859 --> 00:39:31.420
 that the Lord

00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:32.059
 is not slow

00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:33.199
 to fulfill his promise,

00:39:33.339 --> 00:39:33.739
 that is,

00:39:34.139 --> 00:39:34.619
 his promise

00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.339
 to come in judgment,

00:39:35.699 --> 00:39:36.019
 um,

00:39:36.699 --> 00:39:37.839
 as some count slowness.

00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:39.420
 But is patient

00:39:39.420 --> 00:39:39.900
 towards you,

00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:40.680
 not wishing that

00:39:40.680 --> 00:39:41.620
 any should perish,

00:39:41.940 --> 00:39:42.500
 but that all

00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:43.280
 should reach repentance.

00:39:43.600 --> 00:39:44.840
 This is what's going on

00:39:44.840 --> 00:39:45.440
 in,

00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:46.680
 in that old story.

00:39:47.340 --> 00:39:47.559
 God,

00:39:47.640 --> 00:39:49.000
 God is patiently

00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:49.559
 waiting,

00:39:49.880 --> 00:39:50.920
 in hope,

00:39:51.500 --> 00:39:51.880
 that,

00:39:51.880 --> 00:39:53.480
 that the Canaanites

00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:53.920
 would repent.

00:39:54.180 --> 00:39:54.960
 400 years.

00:39:55.340 --> 00:39:56.460
 So God is not capricious

00:39:56.460 --> 00:39:57.019
 in this judgment.

00:39:59.019 --> 00:39:59.460
 Um,

00:39:59.820 --> 00:39:59.940
 so,

00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:00.260
 But he waited

00:40:00.260 --> 00:40:01.380
 generations

00:40:01.380 --> 00:40:02.340
 before Noah,

00:40:02.780 --> 00:40:03.760
 and there was no change.

00:40:03.980 --> 00:40:04.380
 Sure.

00:40:04.680 --> 00:40:05.160
 Yeah.

00:40:05.159 --> 00:40:06.460
 Yeah,

00:40:06.559 --> 00:40:07.139
 God is not,

00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:08.399
 God is not cruel

00:40:08.399 --> 00:40:09.119
 and capricious

00:40:09.119 --> 00:40:09.739
 in his judgment,

00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:10.159
 but,

00:40:10.259 --> 00:40:11.299
 but is patient,

00:40:11.799 --> 00:40:12.339
 wishing that all

00:40:12.339 --> 00:40:13.159
 should reach repentance.

00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:14.559
 Now,

00:40:14.639 --> 00:40:15.299
 one might say,

00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:16.239
 in response to this

00:40:16.239 --> 00:40:17.440
 judgment perspective,

00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:18.099
 which I,

00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:19.000
 which I maintain

00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:19.279
 is,

00:40:19.359 --> 00:40:20.339
 is the Bible's

00:40:20.339 --> 00:40:20.839
 own perspective

00:40:20.839 --> 00:40:22.619
 on this Canaanite conquest,

00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:23.619
 one might say,

00:40:23.699 --> 00:40:25.139
 what about the Canaanite infants?

00:40:26.279 --> 00:40:27.199
 They're killed too.

00:40:27.659 --> 00:40:28.359
 Young and old,

00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:28.759
 we're told.

00:40:29.859 --> 00:40:30.259
 Um,

00:40:30.260 --> 00:40:32.660
 now,

00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:33.360
 I,

00:40:33.360 --> 00:40:33.780
 I confess,

00:40:33.860 --> 00:40:34.720
 I don't have a great response.

00:40:35.540 --> 00:40:35.980
 Um,

00:40:36.980 --> 00:40:37.580
 infants,

00:40:38.260 --> 00:40:38.700
 one thinks,

00:40:39.080 --> 00:40:39.340
 they're,

00:40:39.660 --> 00:40:40.660
 they haven't done anything.

00:40:41.080 --> 00:40:41.340
 You know,

00:40:41.340 --> 00:40:42.000
 they're not.

00:40:44.140 --> 00:40:44.700
 Yeah,

00:40:44.900 --> 00:40:45.280
 maybe,

00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:45.980
 maybe,

00:40:46.280 --> 00:40:47.340
 yeah,

00:40:47.520 --> 00:40:49.180
 maybe if you're changing diapers,

00:40:49.520 --> 00:40:50.100
 uh,

00:40:50.160 --> 00:40:50.780
 maybe you,

00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:52.120
 maybe you might feel that way,

00:40:52.280 --> 00:40:52.480
 but,

00:40:52.660 --> 00:40:53.000
 uh,

00:40:53.700 --> 00:40:54.100
 you know,

00:40:54.180 --> 00:40:56.700
 at least my conscience

00:40:56.700 --> 00:40:57.560
 cries out in,

00:40:57.560 --> 00:40:57.860
 in,

00:40:57.860 --> 00:40:58.480
 in,

00:40:58.480 --> 00:40:59.240
 in outrage

00:40:59.239 --> 00:40:59.719
 over,

00:40:59.719 --> 00:41:00.679
 over the,

00:41:00.679 --> 00:41:02.319
 the slaughter of infants.

00:41:03.019 --> 00:41:03.379
 Um,

00:41:03.659 --> 00:41:04.500
 so,

00:41:04.719 --> 00:41:05.339
 I confess,

00:41:05.439 --> 00:41:07.279
 I don't have a super great response to this,

00:41:07.459 --> 00:41:07.639
 but,

00:41:07.799 --> 00:41:09.979
 it does seem to be the case

00:41:09.979 --> 00:41:11.459
 that the Bible has a much,

00:41:11.699 --> 00:41:13.039
 has a different perspective on guilt

00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:13.379
 than,

00:41:13.500 --> 00:41:15.839
 than we do in the contemporary West.

00:41:16.500 --> 00:41:16.779
 Uh,

00:41:16.779 --> 00:41:19.079
 a much more communal perspective on guilt

00:41:19.079 --> 00:41:19.419
 than,

00:41:19.500 --> 00:41:20.359
 than we typically have.

00:41:21.179 --> 00:41:21.699
 Um,

00:41:21.879 --> 00:41:23.739
 as one of our pastors will be preaching

00:41:23.739 --> 00:41:24.299
 out of,

00:41:24.339 --> 00:41:25.839
 out of Exodus 34,

00:41:26.039 --> 00:41:26.739
 later this summer,

00:41:27.219 --> 00:41:27.779
 um,

00:41:27.780 --> 00:41:30.040
 when God,

00:41:30.160 --> 00:41:30.640
 you know,

00:41:30.680 --> 00:41:31.440
 goes by,

00:41:32.040 --> 00:41:32.500
 uh,

00:41:32.560 --> 00:41:33.040
 Moses,

00:41:33.300 --> 00:41:33.680
 uh,

00:41:33.720 --> 00:41:33.900
 and,

00:41:33.980 --> 00:41:35.580
 and sort of discloses his name to him.

00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:36.400
 Uh,

00:41:36.400 --> 00:41:36.800
 the Lord,

00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:37.280
 the Lord,

00:41:37.340 --> 00:41:38.620
 God merciful and gracious,

00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:39.640
 slow to anger,

00:41:39.640 --> 00:41:41.180
 but then also at the end of that,

00:41:41.460 --> 00:41:41.860
 uh,

00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:43.640
 visiting the iniquity of the fathers

00:41:43.640 --> 00:41:44.300
 and the children

00:41:44.300 --> 00:41:45.360
 and the children's children

00:41:45.360 --> 00:41:46.740
 to the third and fourth generation.

00:41:47.600 --> 00:41:48.040
 Um,

00:41:48.860 --> 00:41:49.660
 this is a,

00:41:50.320 --> 00:41:51.660
 to our modern Western ears,

00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:52.680
 very strange.

00:41:53.220 --> 00:41:53.680
 And yet,

00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:54.500
 uh,

00:41:54.500 --> 00:41:55.639
 this seems to be

00:41:55.639 --> 00:41:56.760
 the perspective,

00:41:56.880 --> 00:41:58.079
 or at least one of the perspectives

00:41:58.079 --> 00:41:58.920
 on,

00:41:59.000 --> 00:42:01.880
 on a kind of corporate communal guilt,

00:42:02.139 --> 00:42:02.619
 um,

00:42:02.820 --> 00:42:03.539
 in,

00:42:03.599 --> 00:42:04.320
 in the Old Testament.

00:42:05.320 --> 00:42:05.840
 Um,

00:42:06.679 --> 00:42:08.320
 then one might say,

00:42:08.400 --> 00:42:09.440
 isn't this awfully violent?

00:42:10.239 --> 00:42:10.679
 Uh,

00:42:10.719 --> 00:42:12.059
 don't we worship a God of love?

00:42:12.900 --> 00:42:13.420
 Um,

00:42:14.420 --> 00:42:14.679
 you know,

00:42:14.699 --> 00:42:15.420
 a God of love

00:42:15.420 --> 00:42:16.320
 is not going to execute

00:42:16.320 --> 00:42:17.719
 violent divine justice,

00:42:18.179 --> 00:42:18.500
 right?

00:42:19.699 --> 00:42:20.219
 Uh,

00:42:20.219 --> 00:42:22.179
 I'd say that is,

00:42:22.299 --> 00:42:22.679
 uh,

00:42:22.719 --> 00:42:24.059
 a very kind of,

00:42:24.179 --> 00:42:24.579
 um,

00:42:25.579 --> 00:42:27.019
 middle class Western

00:42:27.019 --> 00:42:27.719
 kind of,

00:42:27.819 --> 00:42:28.039
 uh,

00:42:28.359 --> 00:42:28.939
 thing to say,

00:42:29.119 --> 00:42:29.439
 frankly.

00:42:29.879 --> 00:42:30.319
 Um,

00:42:31.839 --> 00:42:32.639
 God's judgment,

00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:34.099
 even violent judgment,

00:42:34.159 --> 00:42:35.079
 is not incompatible

00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:35.619
 with his love.

00:42:36.459 --> 00:42:36.980
 Uh,

00:42:37.159 --> 00:42:37.679
 but rather,

00:42:37.779 --> 00:42:39.679
 it is actually good news

00:42:39.679 --> 00:42:41.500
 for the poor and oppressed.

00:42:41.819 --> 00:42:42.339
 Uh,

00:42:42.619 --> 00:42:42.859
 the,

00:42:42.859 --> 00:42:43.799
 the victims of violence

00:42:43.799 --> 00:42:44.299
 and injustice.

00:42:45.519 --> 00:42:46.079
 Um,

00:42:46.259 --> 00:42:47.399
 one theologian,

00:42:47.659 --> 00:42:48.000
 uh,

00:42:48.099 --> 00:42:48.959
 New Haven's very own

00:42:48.959 --> 00:42:49.659
 Miroslav Wolf,

00:42:49.659 --> 00:42:50.559
 uh,

00:42:50.639 --> 00:42:51.039
 writes,

00:42:51.319 --> 00:42:51.799
 uh,

00:42:51.819 --> 00:42:52.699
 one could argue

00:42:52.699 --> 00:42:54.099
 that in a world of violence

00:42:54.099 --> 00:42:55.179
 it would not be worthy

00:42:55.179 --> 00:42:55.739
 of God

00:42:55.739 --> 00:42:57.460
 not to wield the sword.

00:42:57.839 --> 00:42:59.679
 If God were not angry

00:42:59.679 --> 00:43:00.960
 at injustice and deception

00:43:00.960 --> 00:43:02.699
 and did not make a final end

00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:03.279
 to violence,

00:43:03.659 --> 00:43:04.619
 God would not be worthy

00:43:04.619 --> 00:43:05.199
 of our worship.

00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:07.000
 True.

00:43:07.679 --> 00:43:07.920
 I,

00:43:07.920 --> 00:43:08.839
 I think Wolf is right.

00:43:09.359 --> 00:43:09.679
 Um,

00:43:10.799 --> 00:43:12.960
 Psalm 96,

00:43:13.219 --> 00:43:13.739
 uh,

00:43:14.539 --> 00:43:15.539
 cries out in,

00:43:15.539 --> 00:43:16.079
 in joy.

00:43:16.299 --> 00:43:16.420
 The,

00:43:16.420 --> 00:43:18.119
 the trees clap for joy,

00:43:18.440 --> 00:43:18.980
 um,

00:43:18.980 --> 00:43:19.880
 because the Lord

00:43:19.880 --> 00:43:20.740
 is coming in judgment,

00:43:20.740 --> 00:43:21.240
 uh,

00:43:21.240 --> 00:43:22.059
 the psalmist writes.

00:43:22.820 --> 00:43:23.099
 Um,

00:43:24.280 --> 00:43:24.519
 for,

00:43:24.699 --> 00:43:26.760
 for the poor and oppressed

00:43:26.760 --> 00:43:27.800
 who are the real audience

00:43:27.800 --> 00:43:28.659
 of the Bible,

00:43:28.760 --> 00:43:28.920
 they're,

00:43:28.960 --> 00:43:30.280
 they're the real model readers

00:43:30.280 --> 00:43:30.840
 of the Bible.

00:43:31.280 --> 00:43:31.579
 Um,

00:43:32.320 --> 00:43:32.679
 God's,

00:43:32.679 --> 00:43:33.579
 God's judgment is a,

00:43:33.599 --> 00:43:34.400
 is a good thing.

00:43:34.500 --> 00:43:35.240
 It's good news.

00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:36.280
 Uh,

00:43:36.280 --> 00:43:36.960
 it means that,

00:43:37.079 --> 00:43:38.079
 that the oppressor

00:43:38.079 --> 00:43:38.619
 will not

00:43:38.619 --> 00:43:39.780
 and the final calculation

00:43:39.780 --> 00:43:40.139
 win.

00:43:42.320 --> 00:43:42.800
 Okay,

00:43:42.920 --> 00:43:43.559
 real quick.

00:43:43.559 --> 00:43:44.380
 Um,

00:43:44.699 --> 00:43:45.119
 also,

00:43:45.360 --> 00:43:45.599
 uh,

00:43:45.599 --> 00:43:45.719
 I,

00:43:45.940 --> 00:43:46.739
 this can be brief

00:43:46.739 --> 00:43:47.759
 because Nick basically

00:43:47.759 --> 00:43:48.759
 preached this last Sunday.

00:43:49.279 --> 00:43:49.679
 Um,

00:43:50.039 --> 00:43:51.539
 conquest is an allegory

00:43:51.539 --> 00:43:52.320
 for the Christian life.

00:43:52.739 --> 00:43:52.980
 Uh,

00:43:52.980 --> 00:43:54.299
 this is a really old perspective.

00:43:54.579 --> 00:43:54.900
 Um,

00:43:55.039 --> 00:43:55.179
 I,

00:43:55.860 --> 00:43:56.299
 uh,

00:43:56.299 --> 00:43:57.019
 you can look at,

00:43:57.139 --> 00:43:58.599
 there's this fourth century

00:43:58.599 --> 00:44:00.599
 monk that I'm really fond of

00:44:00.599 --> 00:44:01.699
 and he talks about

00:44:01.699 --> 00:44:02.799
 these seven nations

00:44:02.799 --> 00:44:03.579
 as,

00:44:03.659 --> 00:44:04.239
 uh,

00:44:04.400 --> 00:44:04.559
 an,

00:44:04.739 --> 00:44:06.039
 sort of allegorically

00:44:06.039 --> 00:44:07.659
 representing seven different

00:44:07.659 --> 00:44:08.579
 kinds of sin

00:44:08.579 --> 00:44:09.340
 and,

00:44:09.460 --> 00:44:09.840
 uh,

00:44:09.840 --> 00:44:10.299
 that's a little,

00:44:10.360 --> 00:44:10.900
 that's a little bit

00:44:10.900 --> 00:44:11.340
 of a stretch.

00:44:11.619 --> 00:44:11.920
 But,

00:44:12.200 --> 00:44:12.579
 uh,

00:44:12.880 --> 00:44:14.079
 this is an old perspective.

00:44:14.420 --> 00:44:14.760
 Uh,

00:44:14.800 --> 00:44:15.840
 and ultimately it's rooted

00:44:15.840 --> 00:44:16.960
 in Ephesians 6.

00:44:17.079 --> 00:44:17.440
 Um,

00:44:17.800 --> 00:44:19.119
 where we see that our enemies

00:44:19.119 --> 00:44:20.320
 are not flesh and blood.

00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:21.480
 Uh,

00:44:21.519 --> 00:44:21.940
 and yet,

00:44:22.240 --> 00:44:23.579
 the Christian is to fight

00:44:23.579 --> 00:44:24.059
 a battle,

00:44:24.220 --> 00:44:25.280
 but not against flesh and blood,

00:44:25.460 --> 00:44:26.380
 not against human beings,

00:44:26.639 --> 00:44:28.019
 but rather against,

00:44:28.160 --> 00:44:28.860
 uh,

00:44:29.280 --> 00:44:29.579
 sin,

00:44:30.079 --> 00:44:31.680
 against the spiritual forces

00:44:31.680 --> 00:44:33.220
 that choke out human flourishing.

00:44:33.940 --> 00:44:34.420
 Um,

00:44:34.460 --> 00:44:35.599
 just as Israel is commanded

00:44:35.599 --> 00:44:36.180
 to,

00:44:36.260 --> 00:44:36.680
 to,

00:44:36.760 --> 00:44:37.300
 uh,

00:44:37.300 --> 00:44:38.660
 utterly destroy the Canaanites,

00:44:38.760 --> 00:44:40.400
 so also Christians are commanded

00:44:40.400 --> 00:44:43.260
 to utterly kill sin.

00:44:43.960 --> 00:44:44.280
 Um,

00:44:45.400 --> 00:44:46.820
 Joshua is a challenging

00:44:46.820 --> 00:44:48.119
 and even horrifying book,

00:44:48.160 --> 00:44:49.300
 but there is a good word

00:44:49.300 --> 00:44:50.320
 for us here as Christians.

00:44:50.800 --> 00:44:51.280
 Uh,

00:44:51.280 --> 00:44:52.440
 we are not to toy around

00:44:52.440 --> 00:44:52.940
 with sin.

00:44:53.460 --> 00:44:53.940
 Um,

00:44:54.019 --> 00:44:54.960
 if we read Joshua

00:44:54.960 --> 00:44:56.280
 alongside Ephesians 6,

00:44:56.340 --> 00:44:57.280
 we are not to toy around

00:44:57.280 --> 00:44:57.700
 with sin.

00:44:58.200 --> 00:44:58.639
 Uh,

00:44:58.680 --> 00:44:59.519
 we are to destroy it

00:44:59.519 --> 00:45:00.300
 to the last man.

00:45:00.720 --> 00:45:01.160
 Uh,

00:45:01.160 --> 00:45:02.740
 if I'm audited by the IRS,

00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:03.320
 which I,

00:45:03.320 --> 00:45:03.840
 I won't be,

00:45:03.900 --> 00:45:04.820
 because only the wealthy are,

00:45:04.820 --> 00:45:05.019
 right?

00:45:05.099 --> 00:45:05.260
 But,

00:45:05.400 --> 00:45:05.740
 um,

00:45:06.800 --> 00:45:07.360
 if,

00:45:07.539 --> 00:45:08.400
 if I say to them,

00:45:08.539 --> 00:45:08.700
 yeah,

00:45:08.760 --> 00:45:10.079
 I was honest on 90%

00:45:10.079 --> 00:45:10.900
 of my tax return,

00:45:10.900 --> 00:45:12.299
 but then in that last 10%,

00:45:12.299 --> 00:45:13.599
 I committed tax fraud.

00:45:13.920 --> 00:45:14.699
 They won't say,

00:45:14.900 --> 00:45:15.019
 yeah,

00:45:15.059 --> 00:45:15.219
 okay,

00:45:15.239 --> 00:45:15.619
 that's fine.

00:45:15.719 --> 00:45:15.880
 You know,

00:45:15.900 --> 00:45:16.559
 90% is,

00:45:16.559 --> 00:45:17.079
 is good enough.

00:45:17.239 --> 00:45:17.400
 No,

00:45:17.480 --> 00:45:17.699
 I'm gonna,

00:45:17.799 --> 00:45:18.639
 I'm gonna get written up

00:45:18.639 --> 00:45:19.279
 for tax fraud.

00:45:20.119 --> 00:45:21.099
 You don't toy around

00:45:21.099 --> 00:45:21.440
 with sin.

00:45:21.840 --> 00:45:22.079
 Uh,

00:45:22.079 --> 00:45:22.679
 you destroy it

00:45:22.679 --> 00:45:23.340
 to the last man.

00:45:24.139 --> 00:45:24.500
 Um,

00:45:24.920 --> 00:45:26.139
 in order that just as God

00:45:26.139 --> 00:45:26.840
 plants Israel

00:45:26.840 --> 00:45:27.759
 in the land of promise,

00:45:27.860 --> 00:45:29.900
 so also we might enjoy

00:45:29.900 --> 00:45:30.739
 the eternal rest

00:45:30.739 --> 00:45:31.759
 promised to us in Christ.

00:45:32.259 --> 00:45:32.619
 That,

00:45:32.819 --> 00:45:33.059
 I think,

00:45:33.139 --> 00:45:33.460
 is,

00:45:33.460 --> 00:45:34.699
 is one of the,

00:45:34.980 --> 00:45:35.119
 uh,

00:45:35.119 --> 00:45:36.119
 if we read Joshua

00:45:36.119 --> 00:45:37.279
 alongside the New Testament,

00:45:37.400 --> 00:45:37.960
 one of the ways

00:45:37.960 --> 00:45:38.880
 that we can read this

00:45:38.880 --> 00:45:40.300
 profitably as Christians.

00:45:40.679 --> 00:45:41.119
 Uh,

00:45:41.220 --> 00:45:42.440
 there's like two minutes

00:45:42.440 --> 00:45:44.720
 for final questions.

00:45:45.380 --> 00:45:45.780
 Uh,

00:45:45.820 --> 00:45:46.679
 two minutes isn't enough,

00:45:46.780 --> 00:45:47.000
 but,

00:45:47.320 --> 00:45:47.579
 yes.

00:45:48.139 --> 00:45:48.960
 So when you pray

00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:49.940
 that kingdom come,

00:45:50.059 --> 00:45:50.860
 thy will be done,

00:45:51.260 --> 00:45:52.240
 without praying

00:45:52.240 --> 00:45:53.179
 for the established world.

00:45:53.539 --> 00:45:53.960
 Right.

00:45:55.079 --> 00:45:55.579
 Right.

00:45:58.480 --> 00:45:59.000
 Yeah.

00:45:59.000 --> 00:46:00.320
 There's something

00:46:00.320 --> 00:46:01.380
 that comes to mind

00:46:01.380 --> 00:46:03.019
 is thinking about

00:46:03.019 --> 00:46:03.760
 following this

00:46:03.760 --> 00:46:04.440
 in the context

00:46:04.440 --> 00:46:05.619
 of eternity

00:46:05.619 --> 00:46:06.440
 like in young,

00:46:06.579 --> 00:46:07.780
 for example,

00:46:08.639 --> 00:46:09.119
 um,

00:46:09.179 --> 00:46:09.820
 as Christians,

00:46:10.019 --> 00:46:10.780
 we hope that

00:46:10.780 --> 00:46:12.380
 because we believe

00:46:12.380 --> 00:46:13.239
 in Christ now

00:46:13.239 --> 00:46:14.500
 and we're tuttling

00:46:14.500 --> 00:46:15.280
 as our God

00:46:15.280 --> 00:46:15.659
 of Savior,

00:46:16.039 --> 00:46:16.719
 that in eternity

00:46:16.719 --> 00:46:17.780
 we're spending

00:46:17.780 --> 00:46:18.039
 it.

00:46:18.500 --> 00:46:20.000
 And anyone who rejects

00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:20.239
 him,

00:46:20.440 --> 00:46:21.019
 you're going to

00:46:21.019 --> 00:46:21.820
 eternal nation.

00:46:22.440 --> 00:46:23.119
 And so God,

00:46:23.460 --> 00:46:24.480
 eventually there's

00:46:24.480 --> 00:46:25.260
 that huge,

00:46:25.260 --> 00:46:26.039
 even more scary

00:46:26.039 --> 00:46:26.480
 judgment

00:46:26.480 --> 00:46:27.699
 beyond the

00:46:27.699 --> 00:46:28.059
 massacre.

00:46:28.059 --> 00:46:29.340
 And so,

00:46:29.480 --> 00:46:29.539
 like,

00:46:29.599 --> 00:46:30.179
 he's going to believe

00:46:30.179 --> 00:46:30.699
 that God is

00:46:30.699 --> 00:46:31.139
 being created

00:46:31.139 --> 00:46:31.679
 from his death

00:46:31.679 --> 00:46:32.239
 and that he's

00:46:32.239 --> 00:46:32.900
 a just God.

00:46:33.460 --> 00:46:34.500
 If people

00:46:34.500 --> 00:46:35.119
 that are innocent

00:46:35.119 --> 00:46:36.099
 die at this

00:46:36.099 --> 00:46:37.000
 end of the world,

00:46:37.500 --> 00:46:38.739
 in his justice

00:46:38.739 --> 00:46:40.460
 and his wisdom,

00:46:41.059 --> 00:46:41.500
 you will have

00:46:41.500 --> 00:46:42.199
 a way to judge

00:46:42.199 --> 00:46:43.099
 them in eternity

00:46:43.099 --> 00:46:44.579
 such that the

00:46:44.579 --> 00:46:45.320
 right judgments

00:46:45.320 --> 00:46:46.079
 will still be

00:46:46.079 --> 00:46:46.619
 their end.

00:46:46.779 --> 00:46:47.320
 It's what I mean.

00:46:47.920 --> 00:46:48.320
 Children,

00:46:48.599 --> 00:46:49.239
 I mean,

00:46:49.279 --> 00:46:49.639
 I don't have

00:46:49.639 --> 00:46:50.000
 the answers,

00:46:50.219 --> 00:46:50.579
 but if

00:46:50.579 --> 00:46:51.360
 innocent children

00:46:51.360 --> 00:46:51.960
 die now,

00:46:52.440 --> 00:46:53.139
 what happens

00:46:53.139 --> 00:46:53.599
 beyond,

00:46:53.860 --> 00:46:53.960
 you know,

00:46:53.960 --> 00:46:54.659
 how does God

00:46:54.659 --> 00:46:55.179
 judge that?

00:46:55.440 --> 00:46:55.940
 And his

00:46:55.940 --> 00:46:56.639
 in the midst

00:46:56.639 --> 00:46:57.059
 of the

00:46:57.059 --> 00:46:57.360
 healing,

00:46:57.799 --> 00:46:58.039
 probably

00:46:58.039 --> 00:46:58.279
 have a

00:46:58.279 --> 00:46:58.820
 good job.

00:46:59.360 --> 00:46:59.639
 And,

00:46:59.719 --> 00:47:00.000
 like,

00:47:00.320 --> 00:47:01.159
 even prior to

00:47:01.159 --> 00:47:02.360
 having men

00:47:02.360 --> 00:47:03.019
 kill other

00:47:03.019 --> 00:47:03.320
 men,

00:47:03.799 --> 00:47:04.539
 God wiped

00:47:04.539 --> 00:47:05.539
 out their

00:47:05.539 --> 00:47:06.119
 entire earth

00:47:06.119 --> 00:47:06.480
 with a

00:47:06.480 --> 00:47:07.340
 flood because

00:47:07.340 --> 00:47:08.320
 essentially

00:47:08.320 --> 00:47:09.380
 people were

00:47:09.380 --> 00:47:09.900
 singing and

00:47:09.900 --> 00:47:10.320
 all of that.

00:47:10.840 --> 00:47:11.619
 Another uncomfortable

00:47:11.619 --> 00:47:12.440
 part that I just

00:47:12.440 --> 00:47:12.980
 skipped completely.

00:47:12.980 --> 00:47:13.320
 Yeah.

00:47:13.320 --> 00:47:13.659
 So,

00:47:13.719 --> 00:47:14.179
 he chose to

00:47:14.179 --> 00:47:14.679
 wait in

00:47:14.679 --> 00:47:15.340
 that way.

00:47:15.699 --> 00:47:16.099
 And in this

00:47:16.099 --> 00:47:16.699
 other context,

00:47:16.860 --> 00:47:17.219
 he chose to

00:47:17.219 --> 00:47:17.480
 wait in

00:47:17.480 --> 00:47:17.880
 this book.

00:47:18.300 --> 00:47:18.659
 Eventually,

00:47:18.840 --> 00:47:19.559
 he's choosing

00:47:19.559 --> 00:47:20.019
 to do it,

00:47:20.199 --> 00:47:20.559
 it turned

00:47:20.559 --> 00:47:20.820
 out of

00:47:20.820 --> 00:47:21.440
 hell.

00:47:21.820 --> 00:47:22.340
 So,

00:47:22.340 --> 00:47:23.019
 like,

00:47:23.719 --> 00:47:24.280
 in his

00:47:24.280 --> 00:47:24.659
 justice,

00:47:24.880 --> 00:47:25.119
 it's not

00:47:25.119 --> 00:47:26.119
 just in

00:47:26.119 --> 00:47:26.460
 a good

00:47:26.460 --> 00:47:26.780
 sense,

00:47:26.860 --> 00:47:27.079
 like,

00:47:27.380 --> 00:47:27.699
 good people

00:47:27.699 --> 00:47:28.019
 will have

00:47:28.019 --> 00:47:28.519
 good stuff.

00:47:29.199 --> 00:47:29.340
 So,

00:47:29.420 --> 00:47:30.039
 people who

00:47:30.039 --> 00:47:30.599
 sin also

00:47:30.599 --> 00:47:31.519
 have the

00:47:31.519 --> 00:47:32.119
 consequence,

00:47:32.559 --> 00:47:33.440
 but all the

00:47:33.440 --> 00:47:33.760
 in-between

00:47:33.760 --> 00:47:34.280
 that they don't

00:47:34.280 --> 00:47:34.619
 understand,

00:47:34.760 --> 00:47:35.440
 it is just

00:47:35.440 --> 00:47:35.699
 hate.

00:47:35.699 --> 00:47:36.179
 Yeah.

00:47:37.539 --> 00:47:38.460
 And that is

00:47:38.460 --> 00:47:39.219
 actually good

00:47:39.219 --> 00:47:39.699
 news for the

00:47:39.699 --> 00:47:40.019
 oppressed.

00:47:40.739 --> 00:47:40.859
 Yeah.

00:47:41.919 --> 00:47:42.559
 All right.

00:47:43.299 --> 00:47:44.500
 It's 950.

00:47:44.739 --> 00:47:45.719
 That's when I'm

00:47:45.719 --> 00:47:46.159
 told to say

00:47:46.159 --> 00:47:46.359
 that.

00:47:46.699 --> 00:47:46.719
 So,

00:47:47.119 --> 00:47:48.599
 let's pray.

00:47:51.419 --> 00:47:52.219
 Lord Jesus,

00:47:52.379 --> 00:47:52.960
 you say that

00:47:52.960 --> 00:47:53.639
 you will come

00:47:53.639 --> 00:47:54.319
 again in glory

00:47:54.319 --> 00:47:55.019
 to judge the

00:47:55.019 --> 00:47:55.579
 living and the

00:47:55.579 --> 00:47:55.819
 dead.

00:47:57.299 --> 00:47:57.779
 Lord,

00:47:57.859 --> 00:47:58.539
 help us to

00:47:58.539 --> 00:47:59.119
 think about

00:47:59.119 --> 00:47:59.719
 that rightly

00:47:59.719 --> 00:48:02.039
 and let us

00:48:02.039 --> 00:48:05.099
 fear,

00:48:05.099 --> 00:48:05.679
 lest any

00:48:05.679 --> 00:48:06.460
 one of us

00:48:06.460 --> 00:48:07.259
 should seem

00:48:07.259 --> 00:48:08.839
 not to be

00:48:08.839 --> 00:48:09.360
 entering into

00:48:09.360 --> 00:48:10.619
 this eternal

00:48:10.619 --> 00:48:10.980
 rest.

00:48:11.819 --> 00:48:12.480
 But also,

00:48:12.699 --> 00:48:12.880
 Lord,

00:48:13.079 --> 00:48:13.880
 give us hearts

00:48:13.880 --> 00:48:14.400
 that trust

00:48:14.400 --> 00:48:14.900
 your justice.

00:48:15.759 --> 00:48:16.799
 Give us hearts

00:48:16.799 --> 00:48:17.860
 that rejoice

00:48:17.860 --> 00:48:18.639
 in knowing

00:48:18.639 --> 00:48:19.059
 that the

00:48:19.059 --> 00:48:19.480
 oppressor

00:48:19.480 --> 00:48:19.799
 will not

00:48:19.799 --> 00:48:20.079
 have the

00:48:20.079 --> 00:48:20.579
 last word,

00:48:21.299 --> 00:48:23.360
 but that

00:48:23.360 --> 00:48:24.159
 you will

00:48:24.159 --> 00:48:24.599
 put the

00:48:24.599 --> 00:48:24.960
 world to

00:48:24.960 --> 00:48:25.259
 rights.

00:48:28.739 --> 00:48:29.259
 Amen.

00:48:35.099 --> 00:48:44.059
 Amen.

00:48:44.119 --> 00:48:44.159
 Amen.

00:48:44.639 --> 00:48:44.940
 Amen.

00:48:48.940 --> 00:48:49.900
 Amen.