238 Did God Command Genocide? Part 1

We continue to endeavour to understand these troubling stories in the Old Testament. The genocide of Israel against the nations of Canaan are described as something that God commands then to do. However, as we have come to understand the God that Jesus knew we realize that such a terrible event should never be ascribed to God and must be attributed to the enemy and their that comes to steal, kill and destroy.

Click on link for PDF. document.

SHOW NOTES

Genocide Commanded by God?

Here is one quote from the Old Testament of God’s genocidal command to Israel as

recorded by Moses.

Deuteronomy 7:16 “You must destroy all the nations the Lord your God hands over

to you. Show them no mercy, and do not worship their gods, or they will trap you.

By genocide is meant there must be a proven intent on the part of perpetrators to physically destroy a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. (AI)

Genocide is attributed to God in three instances: Noah’s Flood, the Apocalypse or the

destruction of the planet by fire at the end of the world and the destruction of the tribes in the Promised Land to provide land for the Israelites.

Some scholars, on the premise of the inerrancy of scripture, believe that any action

commanded by God becomes morally superior to any other moral standard, even those

given by God. This would mean the genocidal command to Joshua supersedes “Thou shalt not kill.”

We now consider the genocide associated with providing land for the Israelites. Firstly, we notice that the Israelites were not required to engage in violence while settling into the Promised Land.

It had been made clear to Moses that the Israelites would not need to fight the inhabitants of Canaan to conquer the Promised Land. The Israelites were also very aware of God’s part and their part in defeating the Egyptian army. Here is their celebration in song.

Exodus 15:21 NLT And Miriam sang this song:

“Sing to the Lord,

for he has triumphed gloriously;

he has hurled both horse and rider

into the sea.”

This was evidence enough that God could defeat lesser nations which God promised as

follows.

Exodus 23:28-30 NLT I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites,

Canaanites, and Hittites. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the

land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten

you. 30 I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased

enough to take possession of the land.

Deuteronomy 7:16- 24“You must destroy all the nations the Lord your God hands

over to you. Show them no mercy, and do not worship their gods, or they will trap

you. 17 Perhaps you will think to yourselves, how can we ever conquer these nations

that are so much more powerful than we are?’ 18 But don’t be afraid of them! Just

remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all the land of

Egypt. 19 Remember the great terrors the Lord your God sent against them. You saw it

all with your own eyes! And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the

strong hand and powerful arm with which he brought you out of Egypt. The Lord your

God will use this same power against all the people you fear. 20 And then

the Lord your God will send terror[b] to drive out the few survivors still hiding from

you!

21 “No, do not be afraid of those nations, for the Lord your God is among you, and he

is a great and awesome God. 22 The Lord your God will drive those nations out

ahead of you little by little. You will not clear them away all at once, otherwise the

wild animals will multiply too quickly for you. 23 But the Lord your God will hand them

over to you. He will throw them into complete confusion until they are

destroyed. 24 He will put their kings in your power, and you will erase their names

from the face of the earth. No one will be able to stand against you, and you will

destroy them all.

It was not God’s will for the Israelites to fight to gain the land. They were to watch God at

work as they had in their deliverance from the Egyptians, the mightiest army on earth at the time.

This process which God would initiate would take time and implies that God would remove them from the land with natural causes such as hornets or other animals. When the Israelites resort to violence they are acting contrary to God’s promises to them.

Why the Israelites ended up engaging in violence

The Israelites ended up fighting because they wanted to. Even then the LORD did not desert them but helped them in their warfare. This accommodation of God to Israel’s will

happened in many instances such as animal sacrifices, divorce, slavery, monarchy,

polygamy, and law (Galatians 3:18-19 ).

18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be

the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a

promise. 19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show

people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of thechild who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the

mediator between God and the people.

These are examples of the Israelites forcing their preferences on the LORD and God

acquiescing to them. God demonstrates his vulnerability in this way and thus

demonstrates his love (1 Corinthians 13:5—love does not demand its own way).

Having this information does not let God o[ the hook, but it would have let the Israelites o[

the hook if they had trusted God. Here is a case study on this genocide.

1 Samuel 15:1-3 NLT One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to

anoint you as king of his people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! 2

This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle

accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt.

3 Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women,

children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”

This was preceded by a more general genocidal command as follows:

Deuteronomy 20:17 NLT You must completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites,

Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the LORD your God has

commanded you.

This is a list of 6 tribes or people groups that must be destroyed on the order of God.

Amalek’s History of Malice

A good case can be made for the necessity of Amalek’s destruction. They were

descendants of Esau and did not want anyone else to come under the Abrahamic

Covenant which Esau had rejected. They had attacked Israel during their travels from Egypt to the Promised Land (Exodus 17). They also attacked Israel at other times, the details of which we do not have.

Deuteronomy 25:17-19 “Remember what Amalek did to you son the way as you

came out of Egypt, 18 how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and

weary, and cut o[ your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear

God. 19 Therefore when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies

around you, in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to

possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall

not forget.

In addition, Haman, the advisor to King Xerxes in the book of Esther is an Agagite, the name given to the royal leaders of the Amalekites, including king Agag, in 1 Samuel 15.Apparently, the Amalekites were determined to destroy the Israelites and this necessitated their destruction, at least in human reasoning. This is the same reasoning that was part of the cause of the genocides in Bosnia and Rwanda.

Direct Evidence that God is against Genocide

We have no direct “thus saith the LORD” to counter the cause of this genocide being God’s will. The best we have is “Thou shalt not kill” but this commandment is restricted to

homicide since there were many executions commanded by the law.

There is however an incident which indicates that the taking of Jericho by violence was NOT God’s will.

Joshua 5:13-15 NLT 13 When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and

saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and

demanded, “Are you friend or foe?” 14 “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the

commander of the Lord’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in

reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to

do?” 15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take o[ your sandals, for the

place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.

This being accepts worship which means divinity. The being is neither for Joshua nor

against his desire to destroy Jericho. When Joshua asks what to do, he is told to

worship God—he is standing on holy ground. Joshua did not get the message that he

was receiving. He is caught up in his grand desire to destroy Jericho to the p[oint he

cannot hear God’s voice. God again accommodates to Joshua’s desire. Notice that

Joshua is never commanded by God to destroy Jericho. Joshua is following the command Moses gave to destroy the towns and people.

If we factor in the teachings, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the above

understanding is confirmed and amplified. We now rehearse what Jesus said that is

relevant to God commanding or causing genocide.

The Teachings of Jesus make it impossible for God to command Genocide.

If we do not take the teachings of Jesus seriously, we end up being part of the revenge

cycles which characterize the Kingdom of this World rather than the Kingdom of Heaven.

Here are some teachings of Jesus that must be ignored to believe God was the cause of

these genocides.

1. John 8:44 NLT For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do

the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hatedthe truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his

character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

2. John 10:10-11 NLT “The thief’s (devil’s) purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My

purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 11I am the good shepherd. The

good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”

From these two statements by Jesus we may conclude that all murders from Abel onwards are caused by the devil working through human beings.

3. John 5:24 NLT “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in

God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but

they have already passed from death into life.

4. John 11:25 NLT Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who

believes in me will live, even after dying.

These two passages indicate that death and su[ering cannot exist in the presence of God

because life exudes from God’s very presence. John will follow Jesus’ lead by saying “there is no darkness in him (God) at all” (1 John 1:5). Darkness is a metaphor for evil which

includes death. This means that God has never ever executed anyone. How could he if he

has life in himself? Life oozes out from Jesus and God like sunlight radiates out of the sun.

5. Luke 9:52-56 NLT He (Jesus) sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to

prepare for his arrival. 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus

because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they

said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up as Elijah

did?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. And he said, “You don’t realize what

your hearts are like. 56 For the Son of Man has not come to destroy people’s

lives, but to save them.” So they went on to another village. (Italics indicate

marginal readings.)

6. Matthew 26:51-53 NLT But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and

struck the high priest’s slave, slashing o[ his ear.

52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the

sword. 53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands[a] of angels to

protect us, and he would send them instantly?

Jesus did not condone violence and states that violence only leads to more violence.

Punishment, Revenge and God

Punishment and revenge are not part of Jesus’ character which revealed God’s character.

7. Luke 13:1-5 NLT About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered

some people from Galilee as they were o[ering sacrifices at the Temple. 2 “Do you

think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from

Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they su[ered? 3 Not at all! And you will perish,

too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen

people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners

in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

Jesus is teaching that suffering is not God’s punishment on sinners. He is contradicting the cultural understanding of the Jews at the time. Jesus is also contradicting the idea that God caused the curses as spelled out in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. Resolving the role of God in su[ering on the planet is no side issue. Jesus is refuting that God ever caused suffering. Jesus first starts to teach this concept in the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:43-47 NLT “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and

hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute

you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he

gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the

unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that?

Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how

are you di[erent from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

In effect Jesus is denying that God is a pagan god. Pagan gods were petty and vindictive and required appeasement before they would hear or respond to human need. God does not treat us as we deserve but treats us with mercy and compassion. “Love your enemies” does not mean subjecting enemies to genocide. It is by refusing to resist evil people and praying health, wealth and happiness on our enemies that we are identified as children of Jesus’ Father or God Almighty. Genocidal beings are not identified with God according to Jesus.

We are on a knife edge here. We cannot serve both Moses and Jesus in the matter of

genocide. They are diametrically opposed in this issue and there is no agreement on the

treatment of enemies. The way of God and Jesus means that the conflict must be settled by love not by violent force. This is why it is taking so long to end su[ering. Violence can settle the matter quickly. Love is gentle (Galatians 5:23) and takes time to win the day. Genocide is the solution of hatred and violence. It can never be otherwise.

The citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven are motivated by the power of love. The citizens of the Kingdom of this World are motivated by the love of power.

The spirit of revenge is not part of the nature of Jesus and God. It is alien to their thinking in the same way murder is alien thinking for a trauma physician. When we think justice demands the death of a group of sinners we err in two ways. Firstly, death is never God’s

solution. He counterworked death in his ministry by healings and resurrections. Secondly,

like a motor mechanic who does not punish broken cars, God does not think of punishment when dealing with broken sinners. God is thinking of how to heal their brokenness.

Matthew 20:28 NLT For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve

others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

John 3:17 NLT God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the

world through him.

John 12:47 NLT I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have

come to save the world and not to judge it.

There is no reason to destroy others according to Jesus who taught that we are to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

From these teachings we must reject the attribution of genocide to God. The writer was

right in his prediction but wrong in his attribution. Inspiration predicts catastrophes. The

attribution of causation is often the human writer’s contribution and sometimes the writer

is wrong. Here is another example of the writer getting the causation wrong.

1 Samuel 16:14 NLT Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a

tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.

It is impossible to believe that the loving Lord could imagine and accomplish such an

action.

The devil’s role in Suffering

Since the devil is an unknown being in the Old Testament we must acknowledge that God will be blamed for all supernatural events that occur. This is occurring here. Since God had selected and anointed Saul as king through the prophet Samuel the only way he could be depressed, in the writer’s mind was through a supernatural influence, this meant God was the origin of the depression and fear.

The concept of the Shattan which occurs in three places in the Old Testament (Zechariah

3:1-5; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1&2) must not be seen as referring to the devil. The Shattan

was seen as what we would term a “public prosecutor.” Someone who was there to bring

out the truth of the matter.

Conclusion

One of the gifts of the Spirit is the spirit of discernment. It is time to discern the agent of

su[ering and evil in this world (Luke 9:52-56; 1 Corinthians 12:10; Hebrews 2:14). The

agent of su[ering is the great dragon, the ancient serpent, the devil, Satan, the deceiver of

the whole world (Revelation 12:9). God works only for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) in human beings.

There is no darkness in him (1 John 1:5). He is the source of abundant life (John 10:10). He

is the source of eternal life while the sinful nature would destroy us (Ephesians 6:8). He

has conquered death while the devil would conquer our life with death (Hebrews 2:14).

Ian Hartley, December 2025