Why Does God Kill

Mini-study from New Horizons

'Don't you understand? I am the only God; there are no others. I am the one who takes life
and gives it again' (Deuteronomy 32:39 CEV)
'God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16)

All of us live with death -it is inevitable. But isn't it a puzzle that a loving God claims to kill His creation? How
can we reconcile that with Jesus' claim that he came to save the world?

The Old Testament record makes clear that JHVH did indeed kill -sometimes on a massive scale. All mankind but one family of eight, for example, was destroyed in the Flood (Genesis 6). Why? In short, God has a set purpose for the pinnacle of His creation, mankind, and is not disposed to jeopardize that plan. He will remove all obstacles -human or spirit -that knowingly oppose it

Having created man and instructed him in the way of life, the Creator had initiated His plan, having made it
plain (Romans 1). We blew it. Rather than follow the Manual we devised our own operating system, and as with any misused device it didn't work. Over the centuries man deviated further and further from the Way -to such a degree that eventually '...GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually' (Genesis 6:5). The result? All of mankind but for one righteous family was 'purged' in a worldwide flood -to save the plan

Lessons were not learned, and before long the different families were scattered (ch 11) -again to save the plan. But corruption once more set in. The 'righteous' became ever sparser, and the LORD again had to work with one family -that of Abraham. In his days the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah had become degenerate: '...this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me .' (Ezekiel 16:49-50). Clearly a corrupting influence: '....therefore I took them away…’

God had given ample time for the nations to embrace the one true faith. The Amorites -perhaps the leading Canaanite tribe in occupation of Palestine -sank deeper and deeper into lawlessness, despite the righteous witness of Shem, of Abraham, of Melchizedek. They continued four generations before being expelled by Israel (Genesis 15:16). There may well be parallels in our day

Nothing will stand in the way of the fulfillment of God's loving purpose. Here's what the Psalmist tells us: '...
You [God] warn the nations and destroy evil people; you wipe out their names forever and ever' (Psalm 9:5
CEV). And: '...the LORD preserves all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy' (145:20)" Solomon adds: '...I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me' (Proverbs 8:17). God will when necessary remove individuals, communities, nations who stand in the way. He warns, He is very patient, He is merciful. God is love. But when we persistently 'throw a spanner in the works' -He acts

Jesus is generally perceived as expressing love for all mankind (John 3:16 etc). He is not, however, the 'gentle Jesus' of childhood's bed-time stories. In the days of his flesh, he was fearless when opposed, courageous in face of death. And he 'told it like it is': '.. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42). The words of Jesus himself! And through the apostle John he adds: '...hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? ' (Revelation 6:16-17)

God's purpose is that not one of us should ultimately perish, that we should change, and He patiently gives us time to so do (II Peter 3:9). Some flatly refuse, preferring their false faiths and corrupt life-style (Revelation
9:20-21, 16:9-11). They will experience the 'wrath of the Lamb'. That’s Jesus

In both Old and new Testament the Godhead is presented as loving, gracious, merciful (II Chronicles 30:9 for example). When the Father and Jesus kill it is to protect and advance their master plan (Romans 11:36) .

The ark landed on the mountains of Ararat.

Genesis 8:4 Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.

Leviticus 23:34 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD.

I just realized that the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat on the 2nd day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Now, I am wondering if there is any significance to it.

Biblical Facts about Iraq #4

16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq.
17. The wise men were from Iraq.
18. Peter preached in Iraq.
19. The Empire of Man described in Revelation is called Babylon which is in Iraq.

Biblical Facts about Iraq #3

11. Babylon, which is in Iraq, destroyed Jerusalem.
12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq.
13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq. Jesus has been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the fiery furnace.
14. Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, saw the writing on the wall in Iraq.
15. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, carried the Jews captive in Iraq.

Biblical Facts about Iraq #2

6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq.
7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.
8. Jonah preach in Nineveh - which is in Iraq.
9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel.
10. Amos cried out in Iraq.

Biblical Facts about Iraq

1. The Garden of Eden was in Iraq
2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization
3. Noah built the ark in Iraq
4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq
5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq

Coffee

Q: Did you know it's a sin for a woman to make coffee?
A: Yes. Remember, the Bible says "He-brews".

Card Game

Q: Why didn't they play cards on the Ark?
A: Because Noah was standing on the deck.

No Parents?

Q: Which Bible character had no parents?
A: Joshua, so of Nun.

David and Goliath

Q: Who is the greatest babysitter in the Bible?
A: David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.