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Some, particularly Arabs, will dislike this chapter and
point out “imperialism” on Israel’s part.
They’ll point out how it started when Abram left Ur, and that it is
still going on –grabbing land that wasn’t theirs and subduing or eliminating
other nations. (Of course, they
conveniently overlook their own
imperialism or excuse it.) Yes, Israel did all that. However,
Israel was under specific instructions from God to do so!
The Philistines were perhaps their staunchest enemies. God
had been long-suffering with these idolaters and had finally decided to remove
them from the very blessed land they’d been occupying. He was bringing the Israelites into that
land. God had established the boundaries of Israel, not man, and some of
the boundaries remain unattained. God
directed David’s military incursions to accomplish this, and He blessed them with
results.
Of course, conquered
people will say that the conquerors would
say whatever they wanted, that their God had given them that land. But this wasn’t just any god giving the
orders. He is Jehovah, and He is supreme
over the universe. They refused to honor
and worship Him, and He says that one day “every knee shall bow and every
tongue confess.” They can choose to do
so willingly, or if not, they will
do so despite their unwillingness,
for He is sovereign.
Father, this is important to me because we humans are great at withholding areas of our lives from Your sovereignty, just like these nations did. We need to see what we’re doing and understand our
foolishness. Don’t let me be like them
with any area of my life. Help me to surrender all to You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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