Expert: Rev C.Brian Ross - 8/25/2008

Question
QUESTION: An Atheist asked me if your God Jesus is love and love us then why He command Saul to killed every one including women and infant of Amalek ?

1 Samuel Chapter 15
15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.


ANSWER: Hi Nick!

Thank you for the question, asked by your atheist friend/acquaintance.
The first point that must be made is that while it is certainly true, and is the teaching of the whole Bible – from Genesis to Revelation – that God is Love, He is also Just.  This means that He cannot allow evil to go unpunished.  Those who criticise actions such as that to which you refer tend to be coming at the subject from a position of sentimentality rather than Biblical truth!

The Amalekites were an evil race of people who had previously attempted to destroy the Children of Israel without any provocation. (Ex.17:8) and, later, assisted the Moabites to defeat them. (Jud 3:13)  They often raided the Israelites’ land after they had planted crops, leaving them with nothing (Jud 6:2-5)  These events were, of course, judgements from YHWH on His chosen people – but you won’t hear too many atheists  (or anyone else!) complaining about that!

During these years of contact with Israel, the Amalekites would have learned about the God of Israel, and may even have known that judgement had already been pronounced upon them (Ex 17:14-16)  When this happened to the people of Nineveh through the ministry of the prophet Jonah, they repented and the judgement was averted.  The Amalekites did not change, and the word of YHWH was fulfilled – not completely, at that time, (because of Saul’s disobedience) but many years later (I Chron 4:43).
 
With reference to the women and children, we must also remember that we are talking about an age, and culture, that was much less individualistic than ours.  It was perfectly “normal” that misdeeds should bring judgement on a whole people (cf Josh.7)

Nations like the Amalekites who seek to exterminate the Children of Israel aren’t just waging war against a nation of human beings, but against Almighty God Who declared to Abram that He would curse those who cursed Abram and his descendants.  History certainly shows that nations that have persecuted the Jewish people have, themselves, come to nothing wile the Chosen People have survived even the horrors of the Holocaust.

I would respectfully suggest that the lesson to be taken from this episode is not that it gives mortal man an excuse to “judge” Almighty God, but that it reminds us that “... you cannot mock the justice of God.  You will always harvest what you plant.” (Gal.6:7)  The Good News is that those who come to God, confessing their own sinfulness (even ’though it may not seem as great as that of the Amalekites) may find salvation through the Lord, Jesus Christ – YHWH Himself, in human flesh – Who took our place on the cross, dying the death that we deserve in order that we may experience the life that only He can give.  He “... does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (II Pet.3:9)  He IS love – Calvary proves it!

I trust that this will help you to answer this atheist but, of course, (s)he may simply be grasping at straws.  Before we can come to Him, we must believe that He exists (Heb.11:6) which puts the true atheist at something of a disadvantage!

If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to come back with a supplementary question.  You (and your friend) might also find some of the posts, and the audio messages, on my blog to be of interest. Please log on to www.crazyrev.blogspot.com

Blessings

C. Brian Ross (Rev)


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for explaining in depth.

but you know that Atheist , Humanist , Feminist will not satisfied on that you can punished whole nation behalf of some   wicked peoples.

also why not Lord command them that just adopt infant and raise them as Lord Jesus lover instead of killing them

Answer
Hi again, Nick - that was an even quicker response than mine!!

I agree that there are those who will always seek to find fault with the Holy One, and who will never be satisfied with anything that is given by way of explanation.

The bottom line is, I suppose, that we can never fully understand the mind of the One Who created us, and we will always have questions that, even for believers, will not be answered completely satisfactorily.  I always take comfort from a couple of verses in the Old Testament:
1. Abraham's outspoken statement recorded in Gen.18:25 - "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is right"; and
2. Moses' words to the Children of Israel just before his death - "YHWH our God has secrets known to no-one.  We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that He has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions." (Deut.29:29)

He can be trusted - by those who trust Him!

Blessings

C.Brian Ross (Rev)