I remember when I first ran into this chapter in the VOICE translation; I was actually getting terrified of what the evil one was doing through the text… I don’t think this is the best one to preach on in that version, and even if we used the NASB for this, someone can claim colonisation is a good idea due to this chapter. But God wasn’t happy about what would happen to the Canaanites, for He doesn’t delight in anyone’s demise (Ezekiel 18:32), and what worked for one season doesn’t work for all seasons in many cases. Indeed, God was bummed that it would take a gradual decimation so that anything would happen. Of course, God’s judgment on those who hate Him (verse 10) is inevitable, but we are to love our enemies with this (Matthew 5:44-48). However, it’s not as though we should love them and only them — shouldn’t we love all humans? For Jesus didn’t intend on anyone actually being in league with the evil one because of these passages. But this chapter is found in pages 107-108 of the NKJV Bible I have for this four-translation project, page 138 in the NASB Bible (Old Testament, 1995 version), pages 217-218 of my VOICE copy (with the note 📝 📋 sandwiched in-between some of the verses in the beginning), and pages 220-222 of my Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copy.
I already know that those in power want to wield this chapter to enforce hate against all who don’t support them, regardless of the rhyme or reason, and I don’t want this to happen. Yet I feel it’s inevitable at this point, for sadly, peace is becoming impossible for anyone when it comes to U.S. stuff… and since the voters knew what they were doing, safety for all of us is at risk. I think I’ve said this before, maybe in other sources, but I feel helpless to be an advocate for change for any improvements even to a small extent, and instead, I’m stuck with those who would denounce everyone who loves mercy as [expletive] spoiled brats! Indeed, this is becoming unpopular enough so that I think talking about it in a good way is becoming taboo or even illegal, just as during COVID-19, several parts of the country have been claiming Christianity as taboo as it was in much of Europe 🇪🇺 and sadly, I fear it’ll only get worse because of Trump and his worshipers, and there’s millions of them in the U.S. alone. These guys mock the Lord Jesus by claiming He’s behind all their hateful deeds, and Galatians 6:7 says God isn’t mocked, so they’ve hardened themselves into having their souls completely ruled by pedophilia, abuse, and unforgiveness in this fashion, thus offending Jesus. And I think those who love nationalism in Hawai’i, though few in population per capita, will try and move to one place there and establish an independent republic/nation-state, thus cursing the natives who live there. Indeed, no one needs to “realise” that destruction is a “good” idea, as if it should happen before someone even has a chance to believe Jesus is good (see 1 John 4:16-19). They’ll turn a peaceful landscape into a war zone in no time.
Verse 22 mentions that God puts an end to the evil men little by little, but somehow, the cocky Caucasians here in the U.S. have become even worse than they were, and I don’t want to be like this… I’ve actually been ashamed of my ethnicity AND the U.S. more than once because of them, and since the love of Christ means forgiveness is limited in the Church here, and whoever tries to establish a godly one preaching the opposite will only be flooded with nationalists faster than I can count to 100, I’ll need to keep a low profile in my own community, I think. It’s also terrible to endure the ads that lie about healthcare actually working when they really don’t, and they don’t want to improve anything. Indeed, Trump’s for Big Pharma, and they love to claim that atheist medicine is the Gospel, whether or not they use Jesus’ Name to justify this sin. They also don’t want to make good medicine cheaper, for they’re too greedy to even want joy. And when someone confronts this, even indirectly, mentioning God is able to heal still today, His truth is thrown out the window in favour of the Canon being completed, as if any spiritual gift to work good in the world was gone. The Bible doesn’t say this! Yet offence is too high for the whole population, so that’s why miracles can’t really happen much, even in a church like Two Rivers. But I guess the Lord’s presence is nowhere to be found here, even where it’s supposedly safe, for MAGA content is the only thing encouraged in most of the churches, and those who don’t have some other idol worship going on. I really don’t know where to go from here besides watching messages from other countries while I pray I get to visit one… and the worst part is that most others in and out of the Church cannot believe these truths, for 70% of the population visits a church once and never comes back, thinking he/she may be saved. I guess the truth is always preached prematurely! 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
Again, I can’t believe the ridiculous idea that God calls for war today, as if it were a good reason that atheism is so popular now and is ever-increasing throught time with no signs of slowing down or being reversed. Where is the grace of God in this? This chapter is easily one of the top 5 most weaponised in the whole Bible — even verses 7-8 saying God’s love exists for the Israelites can’t help me that much.
