Quote Originally Posted by Psalm136:2 View Post
I agree with you at some point. In the Old Testament though, God ordered kings and leaders to conquer (annihilate) tribes, as what Niky said. But this is not to convert them, but mostly to punish them for their ungodly practices.

On the other hand, Jesus also said when he came to live with men; "I did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it." Kaya di rin nating pwedeng balewalain ang OT.
Actually, the words were to the effect of: "...I have delivered them and all their lands to you..."

What is the significance?

In that long ago time of strife, it's pretty easy to see that these "Words of God" were written by some long ago scribe with the full intention of rallying the troops to victory by instilling in them the belief that God was with them, hence victory was both assured and justified. We must remember that the Jews of that time were a very warlike people.

This idea could be seen as recently as the 1400s where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake as a witch because the English needed their troops to believe that God was on their side so they would fight on... at that time the English soldiers' belief was shaken because of Joan's stunning, seemingly miraculous victories at Orleans and elsewhere.

However, the Bible is written not only by men but also by God. So why has an ancient propaganda exercise for some long-forgotten war survived for so long with that particularly strange turn of phrase...

This is where we see the revelatory nature of God. How foolishly man has interpreted His Word so long ago...

It could've been so easily said: "Conquer them cuz I, your God, said so..." or a more godly "Go forth and subdue them, I, your God, will give you victory..." But it wasn't said that way.

Was God saying something else at that time? Something which in our more peaceful time can be understood simply as: preach the Word here, and these people here will join you.

I still believe that there is no other command of God to go forth and conquer escept for that one command in Genesis so directly and simply said that there can be no interpretation: "God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

Here He establishes man's primacy over the Earth. There is no other command to go out and conquer.

Think of God's Word and what it could really mean for us in comparison to Pavlov's dog. You couldn't tell the dog what the ringing bell means even if you shout yourself hoarse while doing the Hustle. It is only eventually that the dog finally gets it that a ringing bell means food.