We Serve A Good God! – Part 2

Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns where they settled, and set them up in the shrines the people of Samaria had made at the high places. The men from Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men from Cuthah made Nergal, and the men from Hamath made Ashima; the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 2 Kings 17: 29-31, NIV.

Merciful God, we stand in need of Your goodness and mercy. Please forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In the name of Jesus Christ Your Son we pray. Amen.

In my introduction yesterday, I mentioned how I struggled with the fact that God would send away the other nations that were in the land of Canaan prior to the arrival of Abraham and his family, in order to make space for the Israelites. I knew that my Heavenly Father was a God of love and justice, so in my reckoning, it was not like Him to do something like this. I have often heard people say things like:  “The God of the Old Testament cannot be the God of the New Testament. They are so different!” We observe so much tenderness and inclusiveness, in Jesus, the real face of God, in His dealings with humanity in the New Testament, that is so different from the actions of a God who would reject one nation and accept another, or who would give His people instructions to wipe out entire nations to make a place for His people to dwell in the land. Indeed, there seemed to be a missing link. Let me hasten to tell you, that I do not claim to have found that link that seems to be missing, but I am listening to what my Father has to say on the matter in His Word. I will share some of these thoughts with You during this study.

Our Scripture for today informs us that although the king of Assyria sent and had a priest brought to Samaria to teach these nations the ways of “the god of the land” (obviously referring to YHWH), the people continued with “business as usual.” Every nation worshipped the god of their choice. Just a glance at our Scripture for today reveals one of the atrocities involved in their worship, the burning of their childrn as sacrifices.

The first aspect of the problem under consideration that we are going to consider, is that, God sees the heart. Even though it is true that the people of Israel were stiff-necked, and continually falling into sin, whenever God would punish them for their sins, they would usually humble themselves, at least for a time, before falling back into sin. Such an attitude is not seen on behalf of some of these other nations. They wanted to have the best of both worlds. Therefore, we read, “They worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. “They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought” (32, 33, emphasis provided).

I most humbly submit to you what I received as I studied God’s Word, for your consideration. Is this the answer to the apparent difference between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament? I would be quite presumptuous to say that it is; but it is helping me on my journey, so I will share my thoughts with you. God saw the inclinations of the hearts of these people. He made them. He knew that even lions destroying them because of their sins, would not be enough to deter them from their evil ways. So, in order to save those who would be influenced, and eventually destroyed, by their sins, He sent them out of the land, and in some instances had them destroyed. There were also opportunity for non-Jews to join themselves to His people. We will look at examples of all of these situations. What I am learning as I sit at the feet of Jesus in meditation, is that even if God explained certain things to us, we would not understand them. God’s thoughts are so much higher and wider and deeper, than ours (Isaiah 55: 8, 9), that try as we may, I believe we will never be able to understand entirely, what He does, or why He does what He does.

One eternal truth, that is helping me on my journey, is that God’s love will always do what is best for you and me – His goal is our salvation!

We will continue this study.