Conquering and Destructioin in the Old Testament

A friend asked me a question about why the Amorites were destroyed in the Old Testament and I realized I did not have an answer for him. I've been doing some research but I'm not sure why the Amorites or many other civilizations were called to be completely destroyed and others like when Jonah was called, were to be converted. I have Faith in God's plan and I see God's plan through the life of the Israel as a nation, but I'm not sure what to say or even think when some people ask me questions about it, especially if they are not rooted strongly in Faith.

To sum up my question simply, why were some nations like the Amorites called to be completely destroyed?

Ibumy I pray this contains the answer you seek.

The earthly Kingdom of God[ Israel ] was created by God in a land whose people served iniquity and did what was right and wrong in their own eyes. If you have not the spirit of God in you then you serve the beast in you, your carnal desires. God allowed the kingdom of Israel to be destroyed by the Romans and their earthly temple to be destroyed be cause again the people turned from God and committed iniquity by serving different gods than our Heavenly Father. God is no respecter of persons. This Christian generation is judged by Christ Jesus individually and we are excepted through repentance and excepting His atoning works on our behalf and not by our merit.
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Deuteronomy 7
1. When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
2. And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
3. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
4. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
5. But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
6. For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

The Kingdom Of God that God creates in Christians has to be taken by force and all the worldly creation { things that can be shaken ] have to be cast down and destroyed and overcome because the Kingdom of God is spiritual. God is seeking them that will worship Him in spirit and truth.
We still fight but the war we wage now is fought inside our selves and is not against flesh And bone, but a spiritual war. God is a spirit in Christians and the devil is a spirit that lives in the antichrist who resists and rebels against God and His reconciliation, the Christ on the cross.

Christians have our temple that was not made with hands. A temple inside us that God and His First Spiritual Son makes their abode in and are the light. A temple where we worship our God our Heavenly Father and live with the protection of members of God’s children. We fear God not because He will destroy us but chastises us as His own Spiritual Children having separated us from our mothers womb and begotten us again who live in the hope of Christ Jesus that abides in our heart, our salvation..

Ephesians 6
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19. And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.

I hope you get as big a blessing from this as I did Eddie

Hi everyone.

Ilbumy, how are you, and welcome to the forums.

These sorts of questions can be challenging, especially when we feel that God's integrity is being questioned and we strongly want to see these things answered.

I'm not sure though, if we always need to?

We should try to be sensitive to discern the spirit in which a question is asked. We want to help the honest [b]seeker[/b] but at the same time keep in mind that we are speaking about Heavenly and Holy things and we don't want to drag them down to the level of scoffing and mocking either. This is something I've failed in much.

We need wisdom from God at every turn.

I thought of what the Lord had said about the people that the tower fell on(Luke 13):

[b][color=660033]...think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.[/color][/b]

Without reasoning, explaining, or debating, He turns the point [i][b]to them[/i][/b].

I thing there is wisdom in that for us.

Chris

Job 34:

"Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:
Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 For He repays man according to his work,
And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12 Surely God will never do wickedly,
Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?
Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If He should set His heart on it,
If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.

16 "If you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words:
17 Should one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn Him who is most just?
18 Is it fitting to say to a king, 'You are worthless,'
And to nobles, 'You are wicked'?
19 Yet He is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For they are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night;
The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.

21 "For His eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
27 Because they turned back from Him,
And would not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?--
30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.

In these Scriptures you will find the answer...

God Bless
Jeff

thanks for the responses. I feel I've found more insight but I will need to pray and meditate on it more.