Today is Friday, April 12, 2019, and here is your daily devote. When it comes to the driving out of these people groups from the Promised Land, it is important to remember that God was willing to wait about 430 years because the iniquity of the Amorites, a Canaanite people group, has not yet reached its full measure. In other words, Israel's conquering of this land was a form of judgment by God and light of the people's sins. And to demonstrate the long-suffering patience of God, He waited more than 400 years before finally judging them for their unrepentant sins.
What kind of wickedness did the Canaanites keep pursuing? All kinds of sexual sin, even as far as incest and bestiality, in addition to child sacrifice among others. According to one biblical scholar, the evidence for profound moral corruption was abundant. God considered them right for divine judgment, which would be carried out and keeping with God's saving purposes in history.
Not only that, but in regard to the seemingly harsh language of destroying everyone, the average person isn't going to pick up on the fact that the stereotypical ancient Near Eastern language actually describes attacks on military forts or garrisons, not general populations that included women and children. There is no archaeological evidence of civilian populations at Jericho or AI. The use of women and young and old was merely stock ancient Near Eastern language that could be used even if women and young and old weren't living there. The language of all, meaning men and women at Jericho and AI, is a stereotypical expression for the destruction of all human life in the forts, presumably composed entirely of combatants.
Have you given your life to Jesus? If not, please do so today. It is the greatest decision you could ever make. Jesus says that all who come to me, I will not turn away.
You can embrace the rescue of God by simply admitting your need to God, asking Him to forgive you, trusting in Jesus alone to rescue you and following Jesus Christ, the King of your life, in faith from this day forward.