Joshua 11 - God's Righteousness

Brothers and Sisters, Peace to You All! Today, we will discuss a topic that has likely caused confusion and questions over the past several chapters. In the recent chapters, we have witnessed a series of battles and read descriptions like "completely destroyed," "exterminated," "not sparing anyone that breathed," and "both men and women, young and old, as well as cattle, sheep, and donkeys, were killed with the sword." The brutality of war is something we all recognize, but what perplexes us here is that these events were commanded by God. Why would a loving God issue such commands, leading to the complete annihilation of these people? I would like to approach this question from several perspectives. This explanation may take some time, but I hope you find it helpful. Point 1: The Wickedness of the Canaanites First, we must understand the condition of the Canaanite people. Who were the Canaanites living in this region? A closer look at Deuteronomy and Leviticus gives us some insights. In Leviticus 18, God explicitly forbids the Israelites from following the detestable practices of the people who inhabited the land before them. These practices included gross immorality, especially regarding sexual conduct. In Deuteronomy 18:9–13, God warns the Israelites: "When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord." The Canaanites even practiced human sacrifice, offering their children as burnt offerings to their gods. This behavior is utterly abhorrent and demonstrates the depth of their moral corruption. In contrast, God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, replacing the boy with a ram—a profound foreshadowing of Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice. This substitution points to the truth that God does not demand human sacrifices. Instead, He offered His own Son as the one perfect sacrifice for humanity’s salvation. Archaeological records and historical writings reveal the depravity of the Canaanite culture—rampant immorality and deeply rooted idolatry. Such a corrupt culture would only continue to grow, spreading destruction and influencing surrounding nations, including Israel. Point 2: God's Patience and Justice Was there no mercy from God? In Genesis 15:16, God says, “In the fourth generation, your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” God delayed Israel’s conquest for over 400 years, allowing the Canaanites time to repent. But rather than improving, their sins only worsened over time. Even in these battles, there were instances of mercy. Rahab and the Gibeonites were spared because they recognized God’s presence and chose to align themselves with Israel. God, as the ultimate Judge, has the authority to bring judgment upon wickedness. If He does not act against sin, He would be permitting evil to flourish unchecked. Furthermore, God’s judgment comes after long periods of patience and mercy. His delay in judgment is a reflection of His desire for repentance, but this patience is not indefinite. When the time for judgment arrives, it is executed in full righteousness. Should humanity, as sinners, critique the just God? Humanity’s history is filled with far greater brutality. Wars fueled by greed, pride, and sin have claimed countless lives. Humanity has developed tools of destruction in the name of progress, often misusing innovation to harm rather than help. In comparison, God’s judgments in Canaan resemble a surgeon’s precise excision of a cancerous tumor—a necessary action to preserve the health of the whole. His actions demonstrate both justice and mercy. Moreover, God does not spare Israel from discipline. T