In Deuteronomy 7, the Lord again calls for the utter destruction of Israel's enemies. His people are commanded to thoroughly wipe out the other nations living in the Promised Land and leave no trace. Why? Does God just really hate non-Jews?
A close reading of passages like this indicates that the Lord is adamant about the destruction of the Canaanites (et al) because of their potential to become a snare for His people. Here are some of the specific reasons that God cites for His command to completely eradicate the other people-groups:
"For that would turn away your children from following me, to serve other gods" (vs. 4).
"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you out of all the people on earth to be His people, His treasured possession" (vs. 6).
"The images of their gods you shall burn with fire. Do not covet the silver or the gold that is on them and take it for yourself, because you could be ensnared by it; for it is abhorrent to the Lord your God" (vs. 25).
It should be noted that God's warning ultimately went unheeded and the surviving Canaanites did, in fact, lead His people into the gravest forms of idolatry and corruption.
If God is so concerned about the possibility of sin ensnaring His people, shouldn't we be vigilant to weed out and root up anything that entices us to sin in our lives?
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