WEBVTT 03:24.200 --> 03:25.000 you 09:21.200 --> 09:21.900 you 09:58.300 --> 10:03.100 Alright, welcome to Sure Foundation Baptist Church everybody please find your seats and grab a hymn book. 10:03.100 --> 10:07.100 First song we're gonna sing this morning is song 205. 10:07.100 --> 10:11.700 He keeps me singing song 205. 10:11.700 --> 10:15.500 205 and your hymn books. 10:15.500 --> 10:18.300 On the first. 10:18.300 --> 10:22.700 There's within my heart a melody. 10:22.900 --> 10:27.380 Jesus whispers sweet and low. 10:27.380 --> 10:31.940 Fear not, I am with thee. Peace be still. 10:31.940 --> 10:36.300 In all of life's ebb and flow. 10:36.300 --> 10:40.900 Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. 10:40.900 --> 10:45.460 Sweetest name I know. 10:45.460 --> 10:49.200 Fills my every longing. 10:50.100 --> 10:54.660 Keys me singing as I go 10:54.660 --> 10:59.300 All my life was wrecked by sin and strife 10:59.300 --> 11:02.980 Discord filled my heart with pain 11:03.300 --> 11:12.300 Jesus swept across the broken strings, stirred the slumbering chords of gain. 11:12.300 --> 11:21.300 Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, 11:21.300 --> 11:30.300 Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go. 11:31.100 --> 11:35.600 Feasting on the riches of his grace, 11:35.600 --> 11:40.100 resting neath his sheltering wing. 11:40.100 --> 11:44.600 Always looking on his smiling face, 11:44.600 --> 11:49.100 that is why I shout and sing. 11:49.100 --> 11:53.600 Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 11:53.600 --> 11:58.100 sweetest name I know. 11:58.500 --> 12:03.060 fills my every longing 12:03.060 --> 12:07.380 keeps me singing as I go 12:07.380 --> 12:12.100 though sometimes he leads through waters deep 12:12.100 --> 12:16.740 trials fall across the way 12:16.740 --> 12:21.220 though sometimes the path seems rough and steep 12:21.220 --> 12:25.540 see his footprints all the way 12:25.700 --> 12:34.700 Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know 12:34.700 --> 12:43.200 Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go 12:43.600 --> 12:48.360 Soon he's coming back to welcome me 12:48.360 --> 12:53.000 Far beyond the starry sky 12:53.000 --> 12:57.440 I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown 12:57.440 --> 13:01.720 I shall reign with him on high 13:01.900 --> 13:10.900 Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, 13:10.900 --> 13:18.900 fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go. 13:18.900 --> 13:20.900 Alright, great singing, Brother Christian. 13:20.900 --> 13:21.900 Oh, sorry. 13:21.900 --> 13:24.900 Brother Andrew, can you please open us up with a word of prayer? 13:37.800 --> 13:40.800 Amen. Alright, next song is gonna be song 200. 13:40.800 --> 13:43.100 He's a wonderful savior to me. 13:43.100 --> 13:45.500 Song 200 in your hymn books. 13:45.500 --> 13:47.500 He's a wonderful savior to me. 13:49.100 --> 13:51.500 200 on the 1st. 13:52.100 --> 13:57.100 I was lost in sin, but Jesus rescued me. 13:57.100 --> 14:02.100 He's a wonderful Savior to me. 14:02.100 --> 14:07.100 I was bound by fear, but Jesus set me free. 14:07.100 --> 14:12.100 He's a wonderful Savior to me. 14:12.300 --> 14:20.300 For He's a wonderful Savior to me. 14:20.300 --> 14:25.100 He's a wonderful Savior to me. 14:25.100 --> 14:29.900 I was lost in sin, but Jesus took me in. 14:29.900 --> 14:34.800 He's a wonderful Savior to me. 14:34.800 --> 14:39.800 He's a friend so true, so patient and so kind. 14:39.800 --> 14:40.300 He's a- 14:40.300 --> 14:51.020 wonderful savior to me. Everything I need in him I always find he's a wonderful 14:51.020 --> 14:54.400 savior to me. 14:54.400 --> 15:02.400 For He's a wonderful Savior to me. 15:02.400 --> 15:07.400 He's a wonderful Savior to me. 15:07.400 --> 15:12.400 I was lost in sin, but Jesus took me in. 15:12.400 --> 15:17.400 He's a wonderful Savior to me. 15:17.400 --> 15:22.400 He is always near to comfort and to cheer. 15:22.400 --> 15:31.920 wonderful Savior to me. He forgives my sins, He drives my every tear, He's a 15:31.920 --> 15:36.400 wonderful Savior to me. 15:36.600 --> 15:44.600 For He's a wonderful Savior to me. 15:44.600 --> 15:49.400 He's a wonderful Savior to me. 15:49.400 --> 15:54.200 I was lost in sin, but Jesus took me in. 15:54.200 --> 15:59.000 He's a wonderful Savior to me. 15:59.000 --> 16:04.000 Deer grows the love of Jesus every day. 16:04.000 --> 16:04.500 He's a- 16:04.600 --> 16:14.040 wonderful Savior to me. Sweeter is His grace while pressing on my way, He's a 16:14.040 --> 16:27.560 wonderful Savior to me. For He's a wonderful Savior to me. He's a 16:27.560 --> 16:31.400 wonderful Savior to me. 16:31.900 --> 16:41.420 I was lost in sin but Jesus took me and he's a wonderful savior to me 16:41.420 --> 16:44.620 All right great singing now we're gonna have some announcements by evangelist Justin 16:46.140 --> 16:50.620 All right welcome to Yeshua Foundation Baptist Church if you need a bulletin please raise your hand 16:50.620 --> 16:52.620 and then Asher will bring one to you 16:53.400 --> 16:55.400 Can someone give me a bulletin please? 16:55.400 --> 17:02.400 I mean it feels like a homecoming today. Everyone decides to come back to church this Sunday, so praise God for that. 17:02.400 --> 17:07.400 And let's look at the verse of the week, Psalm 145 verse 17. 17:08.200 --> 17:13.840 The Bible says the Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works 17:13.840 --> 17:19.620 It's a simple verse but it's a great reminder that everything God does is right and holy and justified amen 17:19.920 --> 17:24.900 So let's look at inside page. Of course. We are a church plant of shoe foundation in Vancouver 17:24.900 --> 17:30.880 I'm the I'm the evangelist and the location leader. Please give us a follow on our social media platforms 17:30.880 --> 17:35.820 We are on YouTube Facebook rumble and X. We are live streaming on YouTube Facebook 17:36.200 --> 17:39.520 and rumble, although I prefer YouTube better 17:39.520 --> 17:41.840 because rumble's playback is horrible, right? 17:41.840 --> 17:44.540 So we have service time Sunday morning 17:44.540 --> 17:47.360 at 11, Sunday afternoon service at 4 p.m. 17:47.360 --> 17:50.160 and Wednesday night Bible study at 7 p.m. 17:50.160 --> 17:52.860 This Wednesday we'll be covering Acts chapter 10, 17:52.860 --> 17:55.720 talking about the story of Cornelius 17:55.720 --> 18:00.720 as well as the doing away of the dietary loss. 18:00.980 --> 18:03.540 We have someone in this afternoon at 1.30 p.m. 18:03.540 --> 18:04.200 and Saturday morning. 18:04.200 --> 18:10.680 morning at 1030 a.m. Upcoming events will have our annual Fall Fellowship at a local 18:10.680 --> 18:16.240 park on Saturday, October 3rd. So more details to come. The church will be providing the 18:16.240 --> 18:21.440 grilling meat, the patties, and so forth. And you guys can bring the side. There's a 18:21.440 --> 18:27.920 volleyball court, basketball court, pickle ball, kids water thing, whatever. It's a really 18:27.920 --> 18:28.640 fun time. 18:29.100 --> 18:35.060 And then if you are traveling, you can let me know about the hotel discount, because 18:35.060 --> 18:38.620 if you want to stay through Saturday night to come to church on Sunday, so please let 18:38.620 --> 18:39.620 me know. 18:39.620 --> 18:45.660 Because we do have a church discount, church hotel discount at a nearby hotel, so just 18:45.660 --> 18:46.700 let me know. 18:46.700 --> 18:50.680 And then we have Indie Sony Marathons coming up this coming Saturday, okay? 18:50.680 --> 18:52.140 It's this Saturday, July 25th. 18:52.140 --> 18:53.220 Do not ask me when, okay? 18:53.220 --> 18:53.740 This Saturday. 18:54.200 --> 18:57.040 OK, this Saturday we'll have an Indian-Soviet Marathon. 18:57.040 --> 18:58.900 And we'll meet here at. 18:58.900 --> 19:02.100 Just scan the QR code, okay? You will find out all the details. 19:02.100 --> 19:04.500 So we'll meet at the church in the morning. 19:04.500 --> 19:05.700 We'll pair you guys up. 19:05.700 --> 19:08.300 And then we'll send you guys out. 19:08.300 --> 19:10.800 And then we're gonna meet at Chipotle for lunch. 19:10.800 --> 19:12.900 Lunch will be provided. 19:12.900 --> 19:14.500 There'll be no breakfast provided. 19:14.500 --> 19:18.000 Okay, so please fill your stomach before that. 19:18.000 --> 19:21.100 And hopefully the... 19:21.100 --> 19:23.700 I think the weather is a little bit cooler than yesterday, 19:23.700 --> 19:26.800 so it should be a good time. 19:26.900 --> 19:30.580 And we're also going to Purdue on August 22nd. 19:30.580 --> 19:33.900 We are going to Detroit on September 5th. 19:33.900 --> 19:39.860 Again, save the date and please RSVP at sfbcindy at gmail.com. 19:39.860 --> 19:43.380 Also, you can do that at godresource.com. 19:43.380 --> 19:45.580 And if you don't RSVP, there will be consequences. 19:45.580 --> 19:49.180 And so for the Indy-Sloanee Marathon. 19:49.180 --> 19:49.680 And 19:50.400 --> 19:56.060 If you want to know how to be saved or needs to be baptized, please see an usher or myself after the service. 19:56.060 --> 20:09.400 And I forgot to hand out one baptism certificate for Miss Christian that she's actually baptized last year, September 14th. 20:09.400 --> 20:13.400 So I'm sorry, I don't know why I can't do it. 20:17.500 --> 20:20.500 Time travel is real, so I apologize. 20:22.400 --> 20:26.400 It's almost been, almost a year, so 10 months. 20:27.400 --> 20:29.520 And then type in the offerings for you to see. 20:29.520 --> 20:32.020 On the back you can see the birthdays for the month of July. 20:32.020 --> 20:35.160 If your info is not there, please fill it 20:35.160 --> 20:38.460 in the back of the communication card 20:38.460 --> 20:41.820 and drop it in the offering plate. 20:41.820 --> 20:43.760 So with that being said, let's sing one more song 20:43.760 --> 20:45.100 and then we'll take up the offering. 20:48.200 --> 20:52.200 Alright, next song is going to be song 174. 20:52.200 --> 20:54.200 My Jesus, I love these. 20:54.200 --> 20:56.200 Song 174 in your hymn books. 20:56.200 --> 20:58.200 174. 21:03.100 --> 21:05.100 On the first. 21:05.100 --> 21:11.100 My Jesus, I love Thee. 21:11.100 --> 21:16.100 I know Thou art mine. 21:16.100 --> 21:27.100 For Thee, all the follies of sin, I resign. 21:28.000 --> 21:41.600 My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou, if ever. 21:45.900 --> 22:00.300 By Jesus, now I love thee because thou hast first loved it. 22:02.500 --> 22:13.900 And purchase my pardon on Calvary's tree. 22:13.900 --> 22:21.500 I love thee for wearing the thorn. 22:23.700 --> 22:25.040 bruhhh呃 22:32.400 --> 22:35.700 Jesus is now 22:37.220 --> 22:39.220 I'll love 22:39.540 --> 22:41.540 the and love 22:49.900 --> 22:56.500 and praise thee as long as thou land. 23:00.700 --> 23:12.100 And say when the death due lies cold on my brow 23:12.100 --> 23:12.900 It's 23:18.900 --> 23:35.480 Jesus is now in mansions of glory and endless delight. 23:35.480 --> 23:36.480 Aleph. 23:44.200 --> 23:51.880 so bright I'll sing with the glitz. 23:58.500 --> 24:00.300 E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E 24:07.100 --> 24:11.020 Alright ushers, please come up. 24:14.000 --> 24:16.000 Brother Steven, can you please pray for the offering? 24:27.700 --> 24:28.500 Amen. 25:28.200 --> 25:34.520 Alright, we'll be in 1 Samuel chapter 15 this morning. 1 Samuel chapter 15. 25:34.520 --> 25:38.280 If you need a Bible, just raise your hand and I'll sure will give one to you. 25:39.680 --> 25:41.680 1 Samuel chapter 15. 25:42.600 --> 25:44.600 Just follow along, the whole chapter is going to be read. 25:45.680 --> 25:47.880 1 Samuel chapter 15, the Bible reads. 25:49.000 --> 25:56.520 Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel. 25:56.520 --> 26:01.320 Now therefore, hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord. 26:01.500 --> 26:06.780 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid 26:06.780 --> 26:10.300 wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt. 26:10.300 --> 26:17.300 Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not, but 26:17.300 --> 26:24.780 slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 26:24.780 --> 26:28.140 And Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in... 26:28.600 --> 26:36.120 Tulane, two hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand men adjuda, and Saul came to a city of Amalek and laid 26:36.120 --> 26:41.720 wait in the valley, and Saul said unto the Cainites, Go depart, get ye down from Amon. 26:42.500 --> 26:49.140 the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel 26:49.140 --> 26:55.300 when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul 26:55.300 --> 27:01.460 smote the Amalekites from Havilla until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. 27:01.460 --> 27:06.740 And he took Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive and utterly destroyed all the people 27:06.740 --> 27:10.500 with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared him. 27:10.500 --> 27:16.940 agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fowlings, and of the lambs, 27:16.940 --> 27:21.060 and all that was good, it would not utterly destroy them. 27:21.060 --> 27:28.620 But everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 27:28.620 --> 27:33.580 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up 27:33.580 --> 27:34.900 Saul to be king. 27:35.300 --> 27:40.260 for he has turned back from following me and hath not performed my commandments, 27:40.260 --> 27:44.260 and aggrieved Samuel, and he cried unto the Lord all night. 27:44.980 --> 27:50.180 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, 27:50.180 --> 27:55.700 Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, 27:56.420 --> 27:59.060 and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal. 27:59.600 --> 28:04.640 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou the Lord, I have performed 28:04.640 --> 28:06.160 the commandment of the Lord. 28:06.160 --> 28:10.920 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleeding of the sheep in mine ears, and the loaning 28:10.920 --> 28:12.940 of the oxen which I hear? 28:12.940 --> 28:17.100 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the 28:17.100 --> 28:21.400 best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God, and the rest we have 28:21.400 --> 28:22.400 utterly destroyed. 28:22.400 --> 28:25.080 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay. 28:25.400 --> 28:28.900 And I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. 28:28.900 --> 28:30.900 And he hath said unto him, Sayon. 28:30.900 --> 28:38.800 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, was thou not made ahead of the tribes of Israel? 28:38.800 --> 28:41.700 And the LORD anointed thee, Cain over Israel? 28:41.700 --> 28:48.900 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites. 28:49.200 --> 28:55.760 and fight against them until they be consumed. Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of 28:55.760 --> 29:02.240 the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil and didst evil in the sight of the Lord. And Saul said unto 29:02.240 --> 29:07.600 Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and I have gone the way which the Lord sent me, 29:07.600 --> 29:13.680 and I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 29:13.680 --> 29:16.440 But the people, but the people. 29:16.800 --> 29:21.920 took of the spoil sheep and oxen, the chief of the things, which have been utterly destroyed, 29:21.920 --> 29:24.560 to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal." 29:25.000 --> 29:31.800 And Samuel said, Have the Lord as great delight, and burnt offerings and sacrifice as in obeying the voice of the Lord? 29:31.800 --> 29:38.440 Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 29:38.440 --> 29:45.080 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. 29:45.080 --> 29:50.920 Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 29:51.100 --> 29:57.100 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, 29:57.100 --> 30:03.340 and thy words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore I pray thee, 30:03.340 --> 30:08.940 pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord. And Samuel said unto Saul, 30:09.740 --> 30:14.380 I will not return with thee, for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, 30:14.380 --> 30:18.060 and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. 30:18.700 --> 30:24.060 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 30:24.060 --> 30:29.300 And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, 30:29.300 --> 30:32.940 and hath given it to a neighbor of thine that is better than thou. 30:32.940 --> 30:39.900 And also the strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man that he should repent. 30:39.900 --> 30:45.260 Then he said, I have sinned, yet honor me now. I pray thee before the elders of my people. 30:45.800 --> 30:51.000 and before Israel and turn again with me that I may worship the Lord thy God. 30:51.000 --> 30:56.040 So Samuel turned again after Saul and Saul worshiped the Lord. 30:56.040 --> 31:00.680 Then said Samuel bring ye hither to me Agac the king of the Amalekites. 31:00.680 --> 31:05.800 And Agac came unto him delicately and Agac said surely the bitterness of death is past. 31:06.400 --> 31:12.280 And Samuel said, As I sword have made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless 31:12.280 --> 31:13.480 among women. 31:13.480 --> 31:17.840 And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord and Gaelgal. 31:17.840 --> 31:24.800 Then Samuel went to Rhema, and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 31:24.800 --> 31:29.360 And Samuel came no more to see Saul unto the day of his death. 31:29.360 --> 31:34.040 Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king. 31:34.400 --> 31:37.440 over Israel. Brother, where I could you press into service? 31:45.600 --> 31:50.400 Amen. You are in 1 Samuel chapter 15. Let's look at verse number one. 31:50.800 --> 31:55.400 The Bible says this, Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be 31:55.400 --> 31:58.360 king over his people, over Israel. 31:58.360 --> 32:01.120 Now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. 32:01.120 --> 32:06.320 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he lay way 32:06.320 --> 32:10.020 for him in the way when he came up from Egypt. 32:10.020 --> 32:15.200 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not. 32:15.600 --> 32:22.560 but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." 32:22.560 --> 32:28.640 Now, this arguably one of the most controversial commands in the Bible, 32:28.640 --> 32:35.120 because God commanded Saul to destroy utterly and spare not the Amalekites. 32:35.120 --> 32:40.400 He told Saul to slay men, women, children, infants, as well as the animals. 32:40.400 --> 32:41.400 Okay, now... 32:41.700 --> 32:46.300 This is also one of the most used stories by the atheist, 32:46.300 --> 32:49.900 whose mission is to attack the God of the Bible. 32:49.900 --> 32:53.200 So this morning I want to preach a sermon called 32:53.200 --> 32:56.000 Did God Command Genocide? 32:56.000 --> 32:58.400 Did God Command Genocide? 32:58.600 --> 33:05.000 I've heard a debate that the atheist was challenging Christians, and those so-called Christians 33:05.000 --> 33:09.160 gave the absolute wild answers trying to explain this away. 33:09.160 --> 33:16.800 Now, I do think this is a question worth addressing, and even if you may know the answers, it's 33:16.800 --> 33:24.040 still good to know the reasons behind this command, and even if you know those reasons, 33:24.040 --> 33:26.600 still good to brush up on the... 33:26.600 --> 33:31.600 basic lessons on how to interpret tough Bible passages. 33:33.240 --> 33:36.920 But if you ask any average Christian about this, 33:36.920 --> 33:40.000 most of them will begin scrambling. 33:40.000 --> 33:43.640 But as Christians, we should approach any part of the Bible 33:43.640 --> 33:45.680 with this one mindset. 33:45.680 --> 33:47.760 If God said it, I believe it. 33:48.400 --> 33:57.480 And now, this does not mean I fully understand every purpose behind those commandments, but 33:57.480 --> 34:01.520 I'm not going to change what the Bible says because people find it uncomfortable. 34:02.400 --> 34:04.640 Let me read to you a couple of Bible verses. 34:04.640 --> 34:09.120 Romans 11.33 says this, oh, the death of the richest, 34:09.120 --> 34:11.680 both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, 34:11.680 --> 34:14.560 how unsearchable are his judgments. 34:14.560 --> 34:18.840 The Bible says sometimes God's judgments are unsearchable, 34:18.840 --> 34:21.160 and he's waste past finding out. 34:21.600 --> 34:25.620 Because the Bible says, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, 34:25.620 --> 34:28.040 neither are your ways my ways. 34:28.040 --> 34:30.560 The Bible says, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, 34:30.560 --> 34:34.360 so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts 34:34.360 --> 34:35.680 than your thoughts. 34:35.680 --> 34:40.240 The Bible says, his judgments are unsearchable, 34:40.240 --> 34:42.280 and his ways pass finding out. 34:42.800 --> 34:49.800 And we believe that the King James Bible is the preserved, inspired word of God for the English-speaking people. 34:49.800 --> 34:57.600 So that means it is inerrant. That means it does not contain any contradictions. It is perfect. 34:58.900 --> 35:04.480 And, you know, like the verse of the week says, Psalm 119 verse 60, 35:04.480 --> 35:11.980 thy word is true from the beginning, and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever. 35:11.980 --> 35:13.980 Every judgment of God... 35:14.100 --> 35:19.220 righteous. So again this morning I want to address this question did God command 35:19.220 --> 35:25.140 genocide but we have to approach any Bible doctrine any Bible story with this 35:25.140 --> 35:30.780 one mindset and that is if God said it just believe it okay. So point number one 35:30.780 --> 35:35.200 this morning stop trying to save God from the Bible. 35:35.400 --> 35:38.400 Stop trying to save God from the Bible. 35:38.400 --> 35:46.400 One major problem of Christians today is that they are simply ashamed of plain statements from the Bible. 35:46.400 --> 35:50.400 And they would immediately try to explain them away. 35:50.400 --> 35:58.400 And what is amazing is that sometimes the atheists are willing to read those verses more plainly than those so-called Christians. 35:58.400 --> 36:03.040 And here are some of the statements that those Christians said during during 36:03.400 --> 36:07.480 during the debate, and let me just quote that, 36:07.480 --> 36:10.900 there are problematic things in scripture. 36:13.500 --> 36:17.000 The scribe is hyperbolizing God's command. 36:18.340 --> 36:19.960 God can do whatever he wants. 36:19.960 --> 36:23.500 Now, this statement is kind of true, 36:23.500 --> 36:26.360 but this still does not address the root issue. 36:26.360 --> 36:29.180 But why is everyone afraid to read 36:29.180 --> 36:31.100 what the verse actually says? 36:31.200 --> 36:32.540 You know, why are you saying there 36:32.540 --> 36:35.820 are problematic things in scripture, 36:35.820 --> 36:38.740 and every time that you don't understand a command, 36:38.740 --> 36:41.900 that you are bringing that the scribe is hyperbolizing 36:41.900 --> 36:42.540 God's command? 36:42.540 --> 36:46.540 OK, that's not a good way to approach any part of the Bible. 36:46.540 --> 36:47.660 You are in 1 Samuel 15. 36:47.660 --> 36:49.140 Look at verse number 2. 36:49.140 --> 36:51.300 1 Samuel 15, verse number 2. 36:51.300 --> 36:53.540 Notice the first four words. 36:53.540 --> 36:55.700 Thus saith the Lord. 36:56.000 --> 36:57.560 That's really pretty clear, right? 36:57.560 --> 37:02.880 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he lay 37:02.880 --> 37:06.800 wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt. 37:06.800 --> 37:10.300 The verse begins with, Thus saith the Lord. 37:10.300 --> 37:13.020 So it's literally the Word of God. 37:13.020 --> 37:17.420 The Bible does not say, Thus saith the scribe. 37:17.420 --> 37:22.480 The Bible does not say, Thus saith an ancient Eastern literary tradition. 37:23.300 --> 37:28.020 The Bible does not say, thus saith a confused Israelite, 37:28.020 --> 37:31.500 trying to process a traumatic historical event. 37:31.800 --> 37:34.200 It says, thus saith the Lord. 37:34.200 --> 37:34.760 Right? 37:34.760 --> 37:36.240 Look at verse number three. 37:36.240 --> 37:39.720 Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they 37:39.720 --> 37:43.120 have and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, 37:43.120 --> 37:46.400 infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 37:46.400 --> 37:48.880 So instead of trying to explain this away 37:48.880 --> 37:53.440 and wondering how I can make this sound better, 37:53.440 --> 37:56.560 the better question is, what does the Bible actually say? 37:57.300 --> 38:01.900 The Bible says, yeah, let God be true, but every man a liar. 38:01.900 --> 38:04.540 We should never put God on trial. 38:04.540 --> 38:07.260 We did not sit as God's judge, right? 38:07.260 --> 38:10.120 We did not decide whether God's action meets 38:10.120 --> 38:14.000 our moral, ethical, subjective standards. 38:15.000 --> 38:17.180 Isaiah 45 verse 9 says this, 38:17.180 --> 38:20.260 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker. 38:20.260 --> 38:22.060 That's what those people are doing, right? 38:22.060 --> 38:25.300 They're trying to explain away the clear commands of God. 38:25.300 --> 38:28.500 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker. 38:28.500 --> 38:31.720 Let the posherd strive with the posherd of the earth. 38:31.720 --> 38:34.580 Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, 38:34.580 --> 38:37.860 What makest thou, or thy work he had no hands. 38:37.860 --> 38:39.400 Romans 9 20 says this, 38:39.400 --> 38:42.940 Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repriseth? 38:43.000 --> 38:49.740 against God. And many Christians claim to believe the Bible until the Bible says something that, you know, embarrasses them. 38:50.260 --> 38:53.640 They believe the Bible when it says, God is love. 38:54.320 --> 39:02.320 But when the Bible says, utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not, suddenly they become textual critics. 39:03.840 --> 39:07.520 Suddenly, maybe the scribe makes a mistake, you know. 39:08.900 --> 39:10.900 Maybe that's a hyperbole. 39:10.900 --> 39:13.400 Maybe Israel misunderstood God. 39:13.400 --> 39:18.400 Maybe the author was projecting his own culture onto God. 39:18.400 --> 39:19.400 But here's the problem. 39:19.400 --> 39:24.400 You do not believe the Bible if you only believe portions that agree with you. 39:24.400 --> 39:27.900 Why can't you just read this passage plainly and say, 39:27.900 --> 39:32.900 yes, God did command Israel to wipe out the Amalekites? 39:32.900 --> 39:35.400 If the Bible says it, I believe it. 39:35.600 --> 39:42.760 However, we will get into the definition of the word genocide later in the sermon, but 39:42.760 --> 39:47.480 God did command Israel to wipe out the Amalekites. 39:47.480 --> 39:53.800 Now I have more respect for people who believe the plain statements in the Bible, but they 39:53.800 --> 40:00.320 may struggle at the reasons behind those statements than those people who try to explain away 40:00.320 --> 40:01.560 clear scriptures. 40:02.600 --> 40:09.240 For example, when you show people clear scriptures that the rapture is after the tribulation, 40:09.240 --> 40:13.800 and they just gaslight you by saying, God is not a wife-beater. 40:13.800 --> 40:15.380 That really angers me. 40:15.380 --> 40:21.580 Because I have more respect for people who just acknowledge clear verses, but may not 40:21.580 --> 40:27.280 be fully on board, than people try to make things up but ignore clear verses. 40:27.600 --> 40:35.100 Amen. You know, when you show people clear scriptures that say people are God's chosen people, 40:35.100 --> 40:41.400 but then they will gaslight you by saying they are still de-elected even if they are not saved, 40:41.400 --> 40:43.000 that really takes me off. 40:43.000 --> 40:47.400 You know, I have more respect for the people who just acknowledge those verses, 40:47.400 --> 40:50.800 but may struggle at reconciling other verses 40:50.800 --> 40:54.600 than those people who just outright lie about what we believe. 40:54.900 --> 41:02.300 You know, when you show people clear verses on how God hates certain people and that Jesus Christ did go to hell, 41:02.300 --> 41:10.600 and people will do whatever they can to explain a way, clear passage, I have zero respect for those people. 41:10.600 --> 41:13.700 They don't care about the Bible, they don't care about the truth, okay? 41:13.700 --> 41:18.000 I have more respect for people who just acknowledge those verses, 41:18.000 --> 41:22.900 but they may struggle with why God hates certain people than people who have zero character. 41:22.900 --> 41:29.900 Then people could deny those verses and say that's another dispensation. 41:29.900 --> 41:36.900 Or they would quote church fathers and commentaries or even other preachers. 41:36.900 --> 41:40.900 People may struggle at, hey, wife, submit to your own husbands. 41:40.900 --> 41:45.900 They may struggle at that, but I have zero respect for people who just deny clear scriptures. 41:45.900 --> 41:48.900 You are in 1 Samuel 15, look at verse number 9. 41:49.500 --> 41:52.500 Verse number 15, verse number 9. The Bible says... 41:53.500 --> 42:09.000 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fadlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them, but everything that was vile and refused, that they destroyed utterly. 42:09.000 --> 42:17.500 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he is turned back from following me. 42:17.500 --> 42:21.180 Don't miss this, and have not performed my commandments. 42:21.600 --> 42:26.320 and aggrieved Samuel, and he cried unto the Lord all night. 42:26.320 --> 42:30.440 So after God told Saul to wipe them utterly, 42:30.440 --> 42:33.640 so Saul spared the best of the animals, 42:33.640 --> 42:38.040 Saul spared Agak, Saul did not utterly destroy them 42:38.040 --> 42:41.000 as God commanded, and God was upset 42:41.000 --> 42:43.440 that Saul did not perform God's commandment 42:43.440 --> 42:44.960 to wipe them all out. 42:44.960 --> 42:48.400 Look at verse 17, verse Samuel 15, verse 17. 42:49.100 --> 42:52.180 And Samuel said, When thou was little in thine own sight, 42:52.180 --> 42:58.260 was thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, 42:58.260 --> 43:01.500 and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel. 43:01.500 --> 43:03.220 And the Lord sent thee on a journey, 43:03.220 --> 43:07.900 and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, 43:07.900 --> 43:11.340 and fight against them until they be consumed. 43:11.340 --> 43:15.340 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, 43:15.340 --> 43:17.020 but this fly upon the spoil? 43:17.100 --> 43:22.800 and this evil in the sight of the Lord." So God is very clear that Saul did not 43:22.800 --> 43:29.120 obey the voice of God in wiping all of them out and Saul did evil for refusing 43:29.120 --> 43:35.500 to wipe out all the Amalekites. Is there any question that God wants him 43:35.500 --> 43:40.900 to wipe out all the Amalekites? You know the Bible is so clear. Look at verse 22. 43:41.100 --> 43:48.860 And Samuel said, had the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord. 43:48.860 --> 43:52.780 Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 43:52.780 --> 43:59.580 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. 43:59.580 --> 44:06.540 Don't miss this, because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hast also rejected thee from being king. 44:06.540 --> 44:09.100 Because Saul didn't listen to God, 44:09.100 --> 44:12.740 in wiping them out, God literally rejected him 44:12.740 --> 44:14.340 from being king. 44:14.340 --> 44:15.840 That's pretty serious, right? 44:15.840 --> 44:18.340 What did Saul reject? 44:18.340 --> 44:20.020 The word of the Lord. 44:20.020 --> 44:22.940 So the text itself destroys the idea 44:22.940 --> 44:27.780 that this was simply an exaggeration of God's command. 44:27.780 --> 44:32.580 If God did not command the destruction of Amalek, 44:32.580 --> 44:35.260 then what exactly did Saul disobey? 44:36.300 --> 44:38.700 You know, if you take nothing away from the sermon, 44:38.700 --> 44:43.380 get this, do not explain away tough passages. 44:43.380 --> 44:46.180 You know, turn away with your Proverbs chapter 30. 44:46.180 --> 44:47.900 Proverbs chapter 30. 44:50.000 --> 44:55.000 There will be plenty of passages in the Bible that are difficult. 44:55.000 --> 44:58.760 There will be doctrines that might produce tough questions. 44:58.760 --> 45:01.960 There will be verses where you might even say, 45:01.960 --> 45:06.360 I do not completely understand how to reconcile this. 45:06.360 --> 45:08.680 But there's a difference between saying, 45:08.680 --> 45:10.960 I do not completely understand this, 45:10.960 --> 45:16.720 then the Bible cannot possibly mean what it says. 45:16.720 --> 45:17.220 OK? 45:17.600 --> 45:19.360 Proverbs chapter 30, look at verse number 5. 45:19.360 --> 45:22.480 Proverbs 30, verse number 5. 45:22.480 --> 45:24.240 The Bible says this. 45:24.240 --> 45:25.880 Every word of God is pure. 45:25.880 --> 45:29.120 He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 45:29.120 --> 45:32.900 Add thou not unto his words, lest he 45:33.100 --> 45:36.820 Let's hear it, prove thee, and thou be found a liar. 45:36.820 --> 45:40.060 Again, the principle is every word of God is pure, 45:40.060 --> 45:43.860 and do not explain away clear passages. 45:43.860 --> 45:45.620 Do not add to God's intention. 45:45.620 --> 45:47.700 Do not take away from God's intentions. 45:47.700 --> 45:51.820 And sometimes it's OK to say, I know what this verse says. 45:51.820 --> 45:53.820 I know what the rest of the Bible says. 45:53.820 --> 45:54.700 I believe both. 45:55.100 --> 45:58.860 I may not fully comprehend every single detail, 45:58.860 --> 46:04.380 but I refuse to corrupt either passage. 46:04.380 --> 46:07.540 So again, point number one, do not 46:07.540 --> 46:10.500 try to save God from the Bible. 46:10.500 --> 46:11.780 Go to Genesis 15. 46:11.780 --> 46:14.060 Genesis 15. 46:14.060 --> 46:18.820 Point number two, God did not judge the nations 46:18.820 --> 46:19.540 without cause. 46:20.200 --> 46:23.200 God did not judge the nations without cause. 46:23.200 --> 46:27.200 So the first step is to acknowledge the Word of God. 46:27.200 --> 46:31.200 You should believe clear statements from the Bible. 46:31.200 --> 46:36.200 Now next let's talk about why God commanded Saul to wipe out the Amalekites. 46:36.200 --> 46:40.200 But even if we don't know the reasons, God is still right. 46:40.200 --> 46:43.200 He is always right. He is never wrong. 46:44.100 --> 46:52.260 But I feel like it's a little misleading when the atheist asked, did God command genocide? 46:52.260 --> 46:58.540 Because I think it might give the impression that Israel randomly walked into a peaceful 46:58.540 --> 47:03.640 neighborhood and started slaughtering people because they just wanted the land. 47:03.640 --> 47:05.420 But that's not a biblical account. 47:05.420 --> 47:06.420 Okay? 47:06.420 --> 47:06.800 F yet 47:06.800 --> 47:08.760 Before we talk about the Amalekites, 47:08.760 --> 47:11.140 let's talk about the Amorites. 47:11.140 --> 47:13.800 By the way, they are different. 47:13.800 --> 47:18.000 The Amalekites are different from the Amorites. 47:18.000 --> 47:19.760 You are in Genesis 15. 47:19.760 --> 47:21.880 Look at verse number 13. 47:21.880 --> 47:23.360 Genesis 15, verse 13. 47:24.100 --> 47:30.900 The Bible says, and he, God, said unto Abram, know of a surety that thy seed shall be stranger in a land, 47:30.900 --> 47:36.900 talking about Egypt, that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them for a hundred years. 47:36.900 --> 47:41.860 And also that nation, Egypt, whom they shall serve, will I judge. 47:41.860 --> 47:46.100 You know, God, you know, rained down ten plagues to judge the nation of Egypt, 47:46.100 --> 47:49.380 and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 47:49.380 --> 47:52.020 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace, thou shalt... 47:52.100 --> 47:55.340 will be buried in a good old age. 47:55.340 --> 47:58.380 But in the fourth generation, they shall come hither." 47:58.380 --> 48:00.420 Talking about the Canaan land again. 48:00.420 --> 48:04.740 For the iniquity of the Amorites is now yet full. 48:04.740 --> 48:07.620 So the sequence is Israel goes down to Egypt, 48:07.620 --> 48:11.700 and Egypt oppresses Israel, and God judges Egypt 48:11.700 --> 48:12.780 through the plagues. 48:12.780 --> 48:17.460 And then Israel leaves Egypt, and then Israel later 48:17.460 --> 48:19.820 returns to Canaan land, and God judges. 48:20.100 --> 48:23.700 the Canaan nations through Israel. 48:23.700 --> 48:25.700 Okay, so that's the sequence. 48:25.700 --> 48:30.900 So God waited over 400 years before he judged the Amorites. 48:30.900 --> 48:31.700 Right? 48:31.700 --> 48:32.700 So what's the reason? 48:32.700 --> 48:35.300 The Bible says, for the iniquity. 48:35.300 --> 48:37.900 God did not immediately destroy them. 48:37.900 --> 48:39.300 God waited. 48:39.300 --> 48:43.300 So generations after generations have passed. 48:43.500 --> 48:48.500 and their sin continued and their abominations increased. 48:49.500 --> 48:51.740 And God said, they will come to a point 48:51.740 --> 48:55.580 when their iniquity was full. 48:55.580 --> 48:59.240 To me, God is merciful, right? 48:59.240 --> 49:01.640 The Bible says in Psalm 103 verse eight, 49:01.640 --> 49:06.000 the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger 49:06.000 --> 49:07.900 and plenteous in mercy. 49:08.300 --> 49:11.000 So people would say God is just vengeful. 49:11.000 --> 49:13.180 Yeah, I mean, God is a God of justice. 49:13.180 --> 49:17.980 But here, God waited for over 400 years. 49:17.980 --> 49:21.740 If we judge the nation, go to Leviticus chapter 18. 49:21.740 --> 49:23.900 Leviticus chapter number 18. 49:27.200 --> 49:28.800 Look at verse 24. 49:33.200 --> 49:39.760 Leviticus chapter 18 verse 24, the Bible says this, 49:40.700 --> 49:47.300 Defile not yourselves in any of these things, for in all these the nations are defiled which are cast out before you." 49:47.500 --> 49:49.800 Again talking about the Canaanite nations. 49:49.800 --> 49:58.000 And the land is defiled, therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomited out her inhabitants. 49:58.000 --> 50:03.100 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, 50:03.100 --> 50:08.400 neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that soled it among you. 50:08.700 --> 50:15.100 Verse 27, for all these abominations have the man of the Lamb done which was before you, 50:15.100 --> 50:20.700 and the Lamb is defiled. What is the Lamb? That's the Canaan Lamb. Now I do believe... 50:21.400 --> 50:29.000 When the Bible says the Amorites in Genesis 15 is talking about all the inhabitants in Canaan in general 50:29.000 --> 50:34.860 Because when Joshua made his famous statement that you know as for me and my house we will serve the Lord before that 50:35.720 --> 50:38.320 Joshua said choose you this day whom you will serve 50:38.400 --> 50:46.020 Where the gods which your father served that were on the other side of the flood or the gods of the Amorites in whose land? 50:46.020 --> 50:49.180 He dwells, so I believe when the Bible talk about the Amorites. He you know he's like in 50:49.400 --> 50:52.760 in all the Canaan nations. 50:52.760 --> 50:58.180 And if you read Leviticus 18, 19, and 20, 50:58.180 --> 51:00.800 what abominations are there? 51:00.800 --> 51:04.960 Incest, sodomy, bestiality, cutting yourself, 51:04.960 --> 51:08.240 prostitution, adultery, witchcraft. 51:08.240 --> 51:10.920 And the Bible says people in Canaan 51:10.920 --> 51:14.840 have done all these abominations, not just some of them, 51:14.840 --> 51:16.160 but all of them. 51:16.900 --> 51:18.660 Look at verse 28. 51:18.660 --> 51:21.260 Leviticus 18, verse 28. 51:21.260 --> 51:25.140 That the land spilt not you out also when ye defile it, 51:25.140 --> 51:28.020 as it spilt out the nations that were before you. 51:28.020 --> 51:31.460 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, 51:31.460 --> 51:34.380 even the souls that commit them shall be cut off 51:34.380 --> 51:35.660 from among their people. 51:35.660 --> 51:38.740 Now in this case, cut off means put to death. 51:39.400 --> 51:41.080 in its immediate context. 51:41.080 --> 51:45.640 So people in Canaan nations have done all these abominations. 51:45.640 --> 51:47.160 That's really bad. 51:47.160 --> 51:48.840 And then God warns them that there 51:48.840 --> 51:53.000 will be the land vomited them out because of their sin, 51:53.000 --> 51:56.240 because of the abominations that they have committed. 51:56.240 --> 51:58.640 Now go to Deuteronomy chapter number 9. 51:58.640 --> 52:00.120 Deuteronomy chapter number 9. 52:01.500 --> 52:05.700 The point is God did not judge those nations for no reason. 52:05.700 --> 52:10.780 Deuteronomy chapter 9, look at verse 1. 52:10.780 --> 52:13.740 Deuteronomy chapter 9, verse 1, the Bible says this, 52:13.740 --> 52:16.540 Here, O Israel, thou art. 52:16.700 --> 52:23.660 to pass over Jordan this day, to going to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, 52:23.660 --> 52:29.020 cities great and fenced up to heaven, a people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, 52:29.020 --> 52:34.060 whom thou knowest and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak? 52:34.060 --> 52:38.140 Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee. 52:38.140 --> 52:43.900 As a consuming fire, he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face. 52:43.900 --> 52:44.700 So shout out. 52:44.700 --> 52:49.400 drive them out and destroy them quickly. As the Lord has said unto thee, Speak not thou 52:49.400 --> 52:54.140 in thine heart, after the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For 52:54.140 --> 53:00.460 my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land. Doe miss this. For 53:00.460 --> 53:05.960 the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee. Now for thy 53:05.960 --> 53:11.900 righteousness or for the uprightness of thine heart dost thou go to possess their land. 53:11.900 --> 53:12.700 for the wickedness. 53:12.700 --> 53:14.940 of these nations, the Lord thy God 53:14.940 --> 53:17.220 does drive them out from before thee, 53:17.220 --> 53:19.060 and that he may perform the word which the Lord 53:19.060 --> 53:23.220 swear unto thy fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." 53:23.220 --> 53:26.940 So based on this passage, why were they driven out? 53:26.940 --> 53:29.780 For the wickedness of these nations, right? 53:29.780 --> 53:31.540 Not their skin color. 53:31.540 --> 53:32.900 Not their DNA. 53:32.900 --> 53:34.020 Not their ethnicity. 53:34.400 --> 53:39.400 for their wickedness, for the wickedness of these nations. 53:39.400 --> 53:42.160 Go to Deuteronomy chapter 8. 53:42.160 --> 53:44.760 Deuteronomy chapter 8, look at verse 19. 53:44.760 --> 53:45.760 The Bible says this. 53:45.900 --> 53:53.340 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and work after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, 53:53.340 --> 54:01.300 I testify against you this day, that ye shall utterly perish, as the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, 54:01.300 --> 54:06.420 so shall ye perish, because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of a loyal God." 54:06.420 --> 54:10.620 So God is not a respecter of people groups. 54:10.620 --> 54:13.900 God told Israel, if you do those abominations, 54:13.900 --> 54:16.900 you shall surely perish as well, okay? 54:16.900 --> 54:19.900 Because there's no respect for persons with God. 54:20.500 --> 54:27.200 So the same sins that brought judgment upon the Canaanites eventually brought judgment upon Israel, right? 54:27.200 --> 54:35.100 Because Israel committed idolatry and Israel sacrificed children and Israel committed other abominations 54:35.100 --> 54:39.500 and Israel rejected God's prophets and what happened? 54:39.500 --> 54:43.500 Assyria came, right? Babylon came, Jerusalem got... 54:44.000 --> 54:49.000 destroyed, the temple was burned, and then the people were taken captive. 54:49.000 --> 54:53.000 Okay, so again, God is not a respecter of persons. 54:53.000 --> 54:57.000 Go to Deuteronomy chapter 20. Deuteronomy chapter 20. 54:59.000 --> 55:02.000 So you cannot accuse God of racial favoritism 55:02.000 --> 55:06.000 when God judged Israel for the same wickedness. 55:06.000 --> 55:08.000 Deuteronomy chapter 20, look at verse 16. 55:09.900 --> 55:13.460 In chapter 20, verse 16, the Bible says this, 55:13.460 --> 55:16.720 but of the cities of these people which Lord thy God 55:16.720 --> 55:19.300 doth give thee for an inheritance, 55:19.300 --> 55:22.340 thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth, 55:22.340 --> 55:26.860 but thou shalt utterly destroy them, namely the Hittites 55:26.860 --> 55:30.140 and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites 55:30.140 --> 55:32.100 and the Hivites and the Jebusites, 55:32.100 --> 55:34.260 as the Lord thy God had commanded thee. 55:34.260 --> 55:36.740 Now those are the Canaanite nations. 55:36.740 --> 55:37.900 That's why when I said. 55:37.900 --> 55:43.860 You know, when the Bible says the Amorites in Genesis 15, 55:43.860 --> 55:47.380 he's talking about all the Canaan nations. 55:47.380 --> 55:49.820 So God told them to wipe them utterly, 55:49.820 --> 55:51.700 destroy them utterly. 55:51.700 --> 55:54.300 Now go to 1 Samuel chapter 15. 55:54.300 --> 55:56.900 1 Samuel chapter 15. 55:56.900 --> 56:00.660 With that being said, the verses I just showed you actually 56:00.660 --> 56:01.100 Thanks for watching! 56:01.400 --> 56:06.320 are not justification of why God commanded Saul 56:06.320 --> 56:10.400 to wipe out the Amalekites, although those 56:10.400 --> 56:13.800 are good verses on the divine judgment. 56:13.900 --> 56:19.980 Because who are those verses geared toward? The Amorites and the Canaan nations. 56:20.220 --> 56:25.020 But 1 Samuel 15 is talking about the Amalekites specifically. 56:25.220 --> 56:30.860 Okay, 1 Samuel 15, look at verse number one again. 1 Samuel chapter 15 verse 1, the Bible says, 56:31.420 --> 56:33.200 Samuel also said unto Saul, 56:33.700 --> 56:38.420 The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people over Israel, 56:38.420 --> 56:41.700 now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord. 56:41.700 --> 56:44.580 Thus said the Lord of hosts, Don't miss the reason. 56:44.580 --> 56:50.580 I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he had laid way for him in the way 56:50.580 --> 56:54.180 when he came up from Egypt. That's the reason. 56:54.180 --> 56:58.820 So there's a specific reason why God decided to judge the Amalekites. 56:59.300 --> 57:01.700 It did not come from nowhere. 57:01.700 --> 57:04.220 So the Canaanites, God judged them 57:04.220 --> 57:05.740 because of their abominations. 57:05.740 --> 57:06.620 They did. 57:06.620 --> 57:12.820 But God judged Amalek because Amalek attacked Israel 57:12.820 --> 57:14.300 without provocation. 57:14.300 --> 57:17.500 In fact, let's look at Exodus chapter 17. 57:17.500 --> 57:19.140 Exodus chapter 17. 57:19.140 --> 57:19.400 you 57:25.000 --> 57:27.340 Exodus chapter 17, look at verse number 8. 57:27.340 --> 57:30.680 Let's look at the story of what Amalek did. 57:30.680 --> 57:33.600 Exodus 17, verse 8. 57:33.600 --> 57:37.400 The Bible says this, then came Amalek. 57:37.600 --> 57:40.800 and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 57:40.800 --> 57:42.400 And Moses said unto Joshua, 57:42.400 --> 57:46.480 Choose us our men, and go out, fight with Amalek. 57:46.480 --> 57:49.560 Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill 57:49.560 --> 57:51.240 with the rod of God in my hand. 57:51.240 --> 57:53.640 So Israel came out of Egypt. 57:53.640 --> 57:57.440 Israel has just escaped the Egyptian bondage. 57:57.440 --> 58:01.840 And we see Amalek initiated the conflict, right? 58:01.840 --> 58:03.720 Amalek came out to attack them. 58:03.720 --> 58:04.720 Look at verse 14. 58:05.400 --> 58:08.660 Exodus 17 verse 14, and the Lord said unto Moses, 58:08.660 --> 58:11.080 write this for a memorial in a book, 58:11.080 --> 58:13.960 and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, 58:13.960 --> 58:17.960 for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek 58:17.960 --> 58:19.200 from under heaven. 58:19.200 --> 58:23.000 So God has declared this way before Saul's time. 58:23.000 --> 58:26.060 So it did not come out of thin air, okay? 58:26.060 --> 58:31.060 And not only did Amalek start the attack, 58:31.060 --> 58:31.560 heck. 58:31.700 --> 58:34.740 But they also attacked the weak. 58:34.740 --> 58:36.660 They also attacked the vulnerable. 58:36.660 --> 58:39.060 Go to Deuteronomy chapter 25. 58:39.060 --> 58:40.400 Deuteronomy chapter 25. 58:43.500 --> 58:47.500 Deuteronomy chapter 25, look at verse 17. 58:50.700 --> 58:58.380 to the only chapter 25 verse 17 the Bible says remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way 58:58.380 --> 59:04.300 when he will come forth out of Egypt how he met thee by the way don't miss the detail don't miss 59:04.300 --> 59:11.180 what don't miss what they did and smote the highmost of thee even all that were feeble behind thee 59:11.180 --> 59:16.300 when thou was faint and weary and he feared now God that's what they did 59:16.900 --> 59:22.180 Verse 19, therefore for that reason it shall be when the Lord thy God had given thee rest 59:22.180 --> 59:28.220 from all thy enemies round about, in the language the Lord thy God gave it thee for inheritance 59:28.220 --> 59:35.300 to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven, thou 59:35.300 --> 59:36.300 and now forget it. 59:36.600 --> 59:41.320 The Bible says after you destroy all the Canaan land, 59:41.320 --> 59:48.280 then you can destroy Amalek for what they did. 59:48.280 --> 59:54.040 Notice they smote the highmost of Israel 59:54.040 --> 59:56.720 when they came out of Egypt. 59:56.720 --> 01:00:00.120 Now the highmost is the back of the crowd, right? 01:00:00.120 --> 01:00:03.120 And they usually include people who just 01:00:03.500 --> 01:00:09.500 couldn't keep up with the main group, the elderly, the sick, women and children. 01:00:09.500 --> 01:00:15.500 So Amalek prayed on the vulnerable and the Bible says that he feared now God. 01:00:15.500 --> 01:00:20.500 That's what they did. They attacked the weak, they attacked the women and children. 01:00:20.500 --> 01:00:23.500 Sounds like divine justice for me, right? 01:00:25.000 --> 01:00:28.240 So the reason for the destruction of the Amalekites 01:00:28.240 --> 01:00:31.200 was not due to sodomy, besiality. 01:00:31.200 --> 01:00:32.720 The reason was they prey on the weak, 01:00:32.720 --> 01:00:34.760 they prey on the women and children. 01:00:34.760 --> 01:00:37.400 They fought a cowardly fight. 01:00:37.400 --> 01:00:40.440 Because you don't just attack the innocent women 01:00:40.440 --> 01:00:43.000 and children, you go after the soldiers. 01:00:43.000 --> 01:00:45.240 You go after the military infrastructures. 01:00:46.100 --> 01:00:49.940 Now this reminds me of some country in the Middle East that bombs hospitals. 01:00:49.940 --> 01:00:52.580 You know, they attack the vulnerable and they attack the weak. 01:00:52.580 --> 01:00:55.620 Go to Nahum chapter 1. Nahum chapter 1. 01:00:58.100 --> 01:01:00.420 And here are some other attacks from the Amalekites. 01:01:01.940 --> 01:01:06.180 The Amalekites joined the Canaanites in attacking Israel in Numbers 14. 01:01:06.180 --> 01:01:10.740 Amalek joined Moab and Ammon against Israel in Judges 3. 01:01:11.300 --> 01:01:20.180 The Amalekites repeatedly invaded the land and destroyed Israel's crops in Judges 6. 01:01:20.180 --> 01:01:24.500 And the Amalekites attacked Ziklag, burned it, and carried away the women and children 01:01:24.500 --> 01:01:27.080 in 1 Samuel 30. 01:01:27.080 --> 01:01:29.840 To me, God has been long-suffering. 01:01:29.840 --> 01:01:36.080 Because the first declaration against Amalek is found in Exodus chapter 17. 01:01:36.400 --> 01:01:42.240 and the command for Saul to wipe them out did not take place until 1 Samuel 15. 01:01:42.500 --> 01:01:44.260 So God has been long suffering to me. 01:01:44.260 --> 01:01:46.060 Nahum chapter 1, look at verse 3. 01:01:46.060 --> 01:01:47.340 Nahum chapter 1, verse 3. 01:01:47.340 --> 01:01:49.060 To me that's a powerful verse. 01:01:49.060 --> 01:01:50.260 Nahum chapter 1, verse 3. 01:01:50.260 --> 01:01:53.700 The Bible says, the Lord is slow to anger and grating power. 01:01:53.700 --> 01:01:54.980 Yeah, God is patient. 01:01:54.980 --> 01:01:56.220 God is long suffering. 01:01:56.220 --> 01:01:57.140 But don't miss this. 01:01:57.140 --> 01:02:00.220 And will not at all acquit the wicked. 01:02:00.220 --> 01:02:02.420 The word acquit means to discharge. 01:02:02.420 --> 01:02:05.500 The word acquit means to exonerate. 01:02:05.500 --> 01:02:07.340 So even though God is slow to anger, 01:02:07.340 --> 01:02:09.460 that God is merciful and God is long suffering, 01:02:09.460 --> 01:02:10.460 but God is still. 01:02:10.500 --> 01:02:15.740 adjust God, God will not discharge the wicked people. 01:02:15.740 --> 01:02:21.300 The Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust 01:02:21.300 --> 01:02:22.300 of his feet. 01:02:22.300 --> 01:02:27.940 So God remembers the evil of wicked people and wicked nations. 01:02:27.940 --> 01:02:32.540 You may wonder why has God delayed his judgment, but God remembers. 01:02:32.540 --> 01:02:34.960 I will judge the nations at. 01:02:35.500 --> 01:02:39.660 his time and God will judge the nations in this life. 01:02:40.900 --> 01:02:44.380 Now, so I don't think it's right to use the verses 01:02:44.380 --> 01:02:48.540 against the Amorites and to apply them to the Amalekites. 01:02:49.820 --> 01:02:51.940 Although you can draw the same principle 01:02:51.940 --> 01:02:56.020 that God is long suffering and God's judgment 01:02:56.020 --> 01:02:57.800 sometimes did not come. 01:02:57.900 --> 01:02:59.020 right away. 01:02:59.020 --> 01:03:02.980 Because the specific reason against Amalek 01:03:02.980 --> 01:03:06.020 was that they attacked Israel when they came out of Egypt, 01:03:06.020 --> 01:03:09.580 and they attacked the weak, and they attacked the vulnerable. 01:03:09.580 --> 01:03:10.700 So that's the reason. 01:03:10.700 --> 01:03:12.200 Because they attacked women and children, 01:03:12.200 --> 01:03:15.220 because they have oppressed Israel. 01:03:15.220 --> 01:03:18.940 Now, let's go back to the term genocide. 01:03:18.940 --> 01:03:22.540 Here's a definition of the word genocide. 01:03:23.200 --> 01:03:28.740 It's the intentional destruction in whole or in substantial part of a national, 01:03:28.740 --> 01:03:35.740 ethnical, racial, or religious group because of its identity as that group. 01:03:35.740 --> 01:03:37.340 But here's the problem. 01:03:37.340 --> 01:03:42.740 God did not command Israel to wipe out a nation just because of their ethnicity. 01:03:43.100 --> 01:03:47.100 God commanded them to wipe out a nation because of their sins. 01:03:47.100 --> 01:03:50.600 So by that definition, it's not a genocide. 01:03:50.600 --> 01:03:52.600 It's not to do prejudice, okay? 01:03:52.600 --> 01:03:55.600 Now you may not like the reasons that, you know, 01:03:55.600 --> 01:03:59.600 why God wiped out those nations, but these are the reasons. 01:03:59.600 --> 01:04:04.100 God wiped out the Canaanite nations because of the abominations, 01:04:04.100 --> 01:04:08.600 and God wiped out the Amalekites because they attacked Israel and killed the innocent. 01:04:08.600 --> 01:04:10.600 So God did have reasons. 01:04:12.600 --> 01:04:14.520 Now you may not like the reasons, 01:04:14.520 --> 01:04:17.040 this brings me to the third point. 01:04:17.040 --> 01:04:19.400 So I said point number one, stop trying 01:04:19.400 --> 01:04:21.480 to save God from the Bible. 01:04:21.480 --> 01:04:24.080 Point number two, God did not judge the nations 01:04:24.080 --> 01:04:25.920 without cause. 01:04:25.920 --> 01:04:28.600 Point number three, God is always just, 01:04:28.600 --> 01:04:31.520 even when his judgment make you uncomfortable. 01:04:31.520 --> 01:04:33.920 God is always just, even when his judgment 01:04:33.920 --> 01:04:35.680 makes you uncomfortable. 01:04:35.680 --> 01:04:38.600 Go back to 1 Samuel 15, 1 Samuel chapter 15. 01:04:41.700 --> 01:04:47.700 Now you might say that these are not good reasons to wipe out an entire nation. 01:04:47.700 --> 01:04:51.700 Well, you are not God. 01:04:51.700 --> 01:04:57.700 If you call yourself Christians, you should believe the Word of God and believe what God has said. 01:04:57.700 --> 01:05:01.700 Even if you don't like the reasons, if God said it, believe it. 01:05:01.700 --> 01:05:07.500 Even if you don't like the reasons, just believe what the Bible says. Just believe what God says, okay? 01:05:08.000 --> 01:05:13.200 You know, you can apply that to all sorts of authority structure. 01:05:13.200 --> 01:05:18.400 You know, children, if your parents tell you to do something, just do it. 01:05:18.400 --> 01:05:21.000 Don't always ask for reasons. 01:05:21.000 --> 01:05:27.800 You know, women cannot preach or, you know, you show authority over the men in the church. 01:05:27.800 --> 01:05:31.400 People, you know, might say, but she's a better speaker than me. 01:05:31.400 --> 01:05:34.000 Doesn't matter. If God said it, believe it. 01:05:34.800 --> 01:05:39.440 You know, divorce and remarriage are clearly sinful, but then people will say, 01:05:39.440 --> 01:05:44.000 but they seem to be happy. But they deserve to be happy. 01:05:44.000 --> 01:05:47.200 Your feelings don't override the word of God. Amen. 01:05:47.840 --> 01:05:52.160 You know, God said it was wrong to eat pork back in the Old Testament. 01:05:52.300 --> 01:05:55.300 But then he's okay in the New Testament. 01:05:55.300 --> 01:05:57.900 And people can sit around and argue about the reasons, 01:05:57.900 --> 01:06:00.500 health reasons, parasites, diseases, 01:06:00.500 --> 01:06:02.200 and why God gave that command. 01:06:02.200 --> 01:06:03.700 But I don't need to know all the reasons. 01:06:03.700 --> 01:06:05.700 If God said it, just believe it. 01:06:05.700 --> 01:06:06.900 It was wrong in the Old Testament. 01:06:06.900 --> 01:06:09.700 It's okay in the New Testament. 01:06:09.700 --> 01:06:12.300 You know, God tolerated swearing oath back in the Old 01:06:12.300 --> 01:06:15.400 Testament, but in the New Testament, Jesus Christ said, 01:06:15.400 --> 01:06:16.900 swear not at all. 01:06:16.900 --> 01:06:18.300 I don't need to know all the reasons. 01:06:18.300 --> 01:06:20.100 If God said it, I believe it. 01:06:21.000 --> 01:06:27.000 I don't obey God because God has successfully convinced me that his command makes sense to me. 01:06:28.000 --> 01:06:32.000 No, God said it and I believe it. That should be basic, right? 01:06:32.000 --> 01:06:38.000 You know, it's not wrong to wonder about the reasons, but even if you don't know all the reasons, 01:06:38.000 --> 01:06:43.600 even if you don't understand the reasons, just trust and obey, for there's no other way. Amen? 01:06:44.800 --> 01:06:47.480 Now I do want to address a pretty challenging question. 01:06:47.480 --> 01:06:49.520 You're in 1 Samuel 15, look at verse number three. 01:06:49.520 --> 01:06:51.800 1 Samuel 15, verse three. 01:06:51.800 --> 01:06:54.360 The Bible says, now go and smite Amalek, 01:06:54.360 --> 01:06:58.080 and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not, 01:06:58.080 --> 01:07:01.160 but slay both men and women, infant and suckling, ox 01:07:01.160 --> 01:07:02.880 and sheep, camel and ass. 01:07:03.400 --> 01:07:06.880 Now, it's understandable to wipe out the men. 01:07:06.880 --> 01:07:09.680 But then people will ask, what about the women? 01:07:09.680 --> 01:07:11.120 What about the children? 01:07:11.120 --> 01:07:14.400 What about the infants and cyclings? 01:07:14.400 --> 01:07:15.800 Now go to Psalm 145. 01:07:15.800 --> 01:07:19.640 Psalm 145. 01:07:19.640 --> 01:07:22.400 I do think that's a good question. 01:07:22.400 --> 01:07:24.400 But again, even if you don't know the answers, 01:07:24.400 --> 01:07:25.200 God is always right. 01:07:26.600 --> 01:07:32.960 So my first response to you is, God is the perfect judge, you are not. 01:07:32.960 --> 01:07:34.600 His ways are perfect. 01:07:34.600 --> 01:07:37.840 Psalm 145, look at verse 17. 01:07:37.840 --> 01:07:44.600 Psalm 145 verse 17, the Bible says this, the Lord is righteous in all his ways. 01:07:44.600 --> 01:07:47.200 We are not Calvinists, all means all. 01:07:47.200 --> 01:07:49.560 And holy in all his works. 01:07:50.100 --> 01:07:52.940 That's a simple verse, but just think about it. 01:07:52.940 --> 01:07:56.380 Everything God does is righteous. 01:07:56.380 --> 01:08:00.780 Every judgment He does is holy. 01:08:00.780 --> 01:08:03.380 So if God commanded the judgment, 01:08:03.380 --> 01:08:05.700 then the judgment is righteous. 01:08:05.700 --> 01:08:06.500 Right? 01:08:06.500 --> 01:08:08.820 Go to Deuteronomy chapter 32. 01:08:08.820 --> 01:08:10.460 Deuteronomy chapter 32. 01:08:12.700 --> 01:08:16.180 I mean, I feel like people try to address this question 01:08:16.180 --> 01:08:17.540 with a wrong premise. 01:08:17.540 --> 01:08:19.900 They are trying to figure out the reasons, 01:08:19.900 --> 01:08:25.620 but they forget the main reason is God is always right. 01:08:25.620 --> 01:08:27.340 That should be the starting point. 01:08:27.340 --> 01:08:30.740 Deuteronomy 32, look at verse 39. 01:08:30.740 --> 01:08:34.380 Deuteronomy 32, verse 39. 01:08:34.380 --> 01:08:36.540 The Bible says this. 01:08:36.540 --> 01:08:40.300 See now that I, even I, am he, and there's no God with me. 01:08:40.700 --> 01:08:43.100 I kill and I make a life. 01:08:43.100 --> 01:08:45.020 I wound and I heal. 01:08:45.020 --> 01:08:48.700 Neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 01:08:49.700 --> 01:08:51.500 1 Samuel 2, 6 says this, 01:08:51.500 --> 01:08:53.620 the Lord killeth and maketh a life. 01:08:53.620 --> 01:08:56.500 He bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up. 01:08:56.500 --> 01:08:59.420 So the Bible teaches that God gives life 01:08:59.420 --> 01:09:01.100 and God sustains life 01:09:01.100 --> 01:09:03.980 and God determines the bond of life. 01:09:03.980 --> 01:09:05.900 So God is the author of life. 01:09:05.900 --> 01:09:08.580 So if he choose to take it, 01:09:09.400 --> 01:09:13.520 That's just for him to do, right? 01:09:13.520 --> 01:09:15.200 Because if God is the author of life, 01:09:15.200 --> 01:09:19.040 so he can choose to take it if he chooses. 01:09:19.040 --> 01:09:19.880 That should be simple. 01:09:19.880 --> 01:09:21.880 God is the author of life. 01:09:21.880 --> 01:09:24.160 God gives life, and God sustains life, 01:09:24.160 --> 01:09:27.400 and God determines the bounds of life. 01:09:27.400 --> 01:09:30.680 Go to Job chapter 1, Job chapter 1. 01:09:30.680 --> 01:09:32.680 Now, this answer may not satisfy you. 01:09:33.500 --> 01:09:35.980 You may say the battle against Israel 01:09:35.980 --> 01:09:38.500 happened hundreds of years ago before the time 01:09:38.500 --> 01:09:42.180 of their destruction during the reign of King Saul. 01:09:42.180 --> 01:09:44.700 So why should they be punished for the sins 01:09:44.700 --> 01:09:46.900 of their ancestors? 01:09:46.900 --> 01:09:51.260 Well, I do think that's a legit question. 01:09:51.260 --> 01:09:54.500 But my answer to you is still the same. 01:09:54.500 --> 01:09:56.380 God is the perfect judge. 01:09:56.380 --> 01:09:59.700 And if God wipes us away right now, 01:09:59.700 --> 01:09:59.900 you 01:10:00.000 --> 01:10:03.340 At his church, he is still justified. 01:10:03.340 --> 01:10:07.280 Because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 01:10:07.280 --> 01:10:09.620 None of us deserves another breath. 01:10:09.620 --> 01:10:11.660 None of us deserve another heartbeat. 01:10:11.660 --> 01:10:15.500 Every day that we live is because of the mercy and loss 01:10:15.500 --> 01:10:17.580 and longsuffering of God. 01:10:17.580 --> 01:10:22.820 So if God just wipes us all out right now, he is justified. 01:10:22.820 --> 01:10:24.420 Hey, blessed be the name of the Lord. 01:10:25.800 --> 01:10:29.600 Now, you might still say, what about the infants? 01:10:29.600 --> 01:10:31.040 What do the babies do? 01:10:31.040 --> 01:10:32.040 OK? 01:10:32.040 --> 01:10:33.680 There's a problem, though. 01:10:33.680 --> 01:10:37.200 You are still judging God as though that God owes every human 01:10:37.200 --> 01:10:39.500 being 70 years of life. 01:10:39.500 --> 01:10:42.200 You are still judging God as though that God 01:10:42.200 --> 01:10:45.960 owes every human being 80 years of life, 90 years of life. 01:10:45.960 --> 01:10:47.680 Where does the Bible promise that? 01:10:49.100 --> 01:10:50.800 Baby dies every day. 01:10:50.800 --> 01:10:52.960 Children die of diseases every day. 01:10:52.960 --> 01:10:54.920 Children die in accidents every day. 01:10:54.920 --> 01:10:56.760 Children die in the womb every day. 01:10:56.760 --> 01:11:00.360 David's infant son died under the judgment of God. 01:11:00.360 --> 01:11:04.160 Going to Job chapter 1, look at verse 21, Job 1.21. 01:11:04.160 --> 01:11:06.560 That's a famous verse that we like to quote. 01:11:06.560 --> 01:11:07.840 Job 1.21 says this. 01:11:07.840 --> 01:11:08.300 Thanks for watching! 01:11:09.300 --> 01:11:15.500 said naked came I out of my mother's womb and naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord shall have taken away 01:11:15.900 --> 01:11:19.300 Blessed be the name of the Lord. So if God takes away life 01:11:19.740 --> 01:11:25.140 Hey blessed be the name of the Lord if God gives life let his name be blessed 01:11:25.620 --> 01:11:26.800 maybe 01:11:27.100 --> 01:11:28.440 That's my speculation, okay? 01:11:28.440 --> 01:11:32.340 Maybe God through his foreknowledge knew that if those babies 01:11:32.340 --> 01:11:34.980 grew up in those reprobate nations, 01:11:34.980 --> 01:11:36.980 they would become reprobates themselves. 01:11:36.980 --> 01:11:38.640 So by taking their lives, 01:11:38.640 --> 01:11:43.060 it was actually an act of mercy so they could go to heaven. 01:11:43.060 --> 01:11:44.780 I'm not saying this was the reason, 01:11:44.780 --> 01:11:46.820 but it could be a possibility, right? 01:11:46.820 --> 01:11:47.700 You don't really know that. 01:11:47.700 --> 01:11:49.940 To me, you know, people will argue why did God, 01:11:49.940 --> 01:11:51.700 you know, why was God so cruel? 01:11:51.700 --> 01:11:53.360 To me, God is merciful. 01:11:53.900 --> 01:11:59.400 God is not wanting to grow up with this abominable acts down to them, right? 01:11:59.400 --> 01:12:02.900 So God is merciful. Go to Job chapter 9. Job chapter 9. 01:12:03.900 --> 01:12:09.900 So God is the giver of life. If God allows a man to live 80 years, God is just. 01:12:09.900 --> 01:12:13.900 If God allows a man to live 8 years, God is still just. 01:12:13.900 --> 01:12:18.900 If God allows a baby to live 8 days, God is still just because life belongs to God. 01:12:19.400 --> 01:12:23.260 Job chapter 9, look at verse 12, Job 9-12. 01:12:23.260 --> 01:12:25.360 The Bible says, behold, he takeeth away. 01:12:25.360 --> 01:12:26.960 Who can hinder him? 01:12:26.960 --> 01:12:29.920 Who will say unto him, what doest thou? 01:12:29.920 --> 01:12:31.460 That should be enough. 01:12:31.460 --> 01:12:35.200 Again, the premise is, I may not understand 01:12:35.200 --> 01:12:36.600 every single reason. 01:12:36.600 --> 01:12:42.040 I may not be able to answer every emotional objection. 01:12:42.040 --> 01:12:43.640 But I know God is holy. 01:12:43.640 --> 01:12:45.040 I know God is righteous. 01:12:45.040 --> 01:12:45.960 I know God is just. 01:12:46.200 --> 01:12:49.200 and the judge of all the earth will always do right. 01:12:49.200 --> 01:12:50.200 Amen? 01:12:50.200 --> 01:12:54.200 And you can apply this to all areas of life. 01:12:54.200 --> 01:12:56.200 Because we may not fully comprehend 01:12:56.200 --> 01:13:00.200 why God allowed a faithful Christian to die. 01:13:00.200 --> 01:13:05.200 We may not fully comprehend why your loved ones have terrible sicknesses. 01:13:05.200 --> 01:13:09.200 We may not fully comprehend why we go through, you know, 01:13:09.200 --> 01:13:11.200 why people go through miscarriages. 01:13:12.000 --> 01:13:18.000 We may not fully understand why God allowed a tragedy to come into your life. 01:13:18.000 --> 01:13:22.000 And we can sit here just asking, hey, why God, why did you allow this? 01:13:22.000 --> 01:13:25.000 Why did you let that happen to me? 01:13:25.000 --> 01:13:28.000 Why did you let this happen to my family? 01:13:28.000 --> 01:13:30.000 And I may not have an answer for you. 01:13:30.000 --> 01:13:36.000 You may live the rest of your life and never fully understand the reason. 01:13:36.500 --> 01:13:41.500 But one thing I do know for sure is God knows what he is doing and God is always right. 01:13:41.500 --> 01:13:48.500 Job said, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. That is faith. Amen. 01:13:48.500 --> 01:13:54.500 So faith is not saying, hey God, I will trust you as soon as you explain everything to me. 01:13:54.500 --> 01:13:59.500 Faith is God, I may never understand but I know who you are. 01:13:59.700 --> 01:14:04.700 God is holy, God is righteous, God is just, and the judge of all the earth will always do right. 01:14:04.700 --> 01:14:08.700 Go to 1 Samuel 15, 1 Samuel 15. 01:14:08.700 --> 01:14:13.700 So I say point number one, stop trying to save God from the Bible. 01:14:13.700 --> 01:14:17.700 Point number two, God did not judge the nations without cause. 01:14:17.700 --> 01:14:23.700 Point number three, God is always just even when his judgment makes you uncomfortable. 01:14:23.700 --> 01:14:25.700 And lastly, point number four. 01:14:26.700 --> 01:14:32.700 God's judgment does not give us permission to commit ethnic cleansing. 01:14:33.700 --> 01:14:37.700 God's judgment does not give us permission to commit ethnic cleansing. 01:14:39.700 --> 01:14:42.700 Now you may say, nobody does that. 01:14:43.700 --> 01:14:45.700 Well, that's what Hitler did. 01:14:45.700 --> 01:14:48.700 That's what Lindsey Graham wanted to do. 01:14:49.700 --> 01:14:51.700 That's what Israel is doing right now. 01:14:52.200 --> 01:14:56.480 People will take the conquest of Canaan and the conquest 01:14:56.480 --> 01:15:00.360 of the Amalekites and say, see, the Bible 01:15:00.360 --> 01:15:02.960 justifies ethnic cleansing. 01:15:02.960 --> 01:15:05.640 No, the Bible records a specific command 01:15:05.640 --> 01:15:11.520 from God against specific nations at a specific time 01:15:11.520 --> 01:15:14.880 as an act of divine judgment. 01:15:14.880 --> 01:15:18.800 Israel had a divine direct commandment from God. 01:15:19.500 --> 01:15:22.220 1 Samuel chapter 15, look at verse number 2 again. 01:15:22.220 --> 01:15:26.780 The Bible says, thus saith the Lord of hosts. 01:15:26.780 --> 01:15:29.220 Israel did not wake up one day and just say, 01:15:29.220 --> 01:15:31.060 we don't like the Amalekites. 01:15:31.060 --> 01:15:34.020 They did not wake up one morning and say, 01:15:34.020 --> 01:15:35.740 I want their property. 01:15:35.740 --> 01:15:37.220 I want their land. 01:15:37.220 --> 01:15:41.620 Our ancestors lived here, so everyone else has to leave. 01:15:41.620 --> 01:15:43.340 This was a direct commandment from God. 01:15:43.600 --> 01:15:50.600 Okay? You cannot appoint yourself as God's instrument of judgment. 01:15:50.600 --> 01:15:58.600 I've literally heard Christians using these passages and just justify actual genocide of the Palestinians. 01:15:58.600 --> 01:16:03.600 They use these passages to justify killing women and children. 01:16:03.600 --> 01:16:05.600 I'm talking about safe Christians. 01:16:05.600 --> 01:16:08.600 But there's a fundamental problem here. 01:16:08.600 --> 01:16:09.440 Where did God? 01:16:09.800 --> 01:16:14.360 command the modern state of Israel to kill or to expel the Palestinians. 01:16:14.760 --> 01:16:16.280 Show me the verse. 01:16:16.280 --> 01:16:18.280 Show me the command. 01:16:18.280 --> 01:16:21.480 And God did speak through the prophets and the apostles, right? 01:16:21.560 --> 01:16:27.320 But now we have the complete Word of God and everything we do must be examined by the Word of God. 01:16:27.560 --> 01:16:33.560 So if you claim you heard a voice that says something against the Bible, then that's a demonic voice. 01:16:34.500 --> 01:16:40.180 By the way, back in the Old Testament, yeah, we have a physical patternation, and God did 01:16:40.180 --> 01:16:49.780 command Israel to physically wipe out certain nations. But in the New Testament, we are a 01:16:49.780 --> 01:16:56.340 spiritual nation, and we do not war after the flesh. It's a spiritual fight, so no ethnic cleansing, 01:16:57.140 --> 01:16:59.140 none of that is justified. 01:17:00.100 --> 01:17:01.700 Go to Deuteronomy chapter 9. 01:17:01.700 --> 01:17:04.500 Deuteronomy chapter 9. 01:17:04.500 --> 01:17:07.220 Lindsey Graham, by the way, he is not Billy Graham's wife. 01:17:07.220 --> 01:17:12.100 Lindsey Graham died on July 11. 01:17:12.100 --> 01:17:14.300 And we should not be sad about it. 01:17:14.300 --> 01:17:16.220 The Bible says in Proverbs 11, verse number 10, 01:17:16.220 --> 01:17:18.940 when it goeth well with the righteous, the city. 01:17:20.200 --> 01:17:23.600 rejoiceth, and when the wicked perish, they're shouting." 01:17:23.600 --> 01:17:26.440 Lindsey Graham is a, he was a politician 01:17:26.440 --> 01:17:31.440 and also an attorney who represented South Carolina 01:17:32.120 --> 01:17:35.280 in the US Senate from 2003. 01:17:35.280 --> 01:17:38.340 Let me just read to you some of his statements. 01:17:39.380 --> 01:17:43.320 We are in a religious war here. 01:17:43.320 --> 01:17:44.400 I'm with Israel. 01:17:44.500 --> 01:17:50.340 whatever the hell you have to do to defend yourself, level the place. He's talking about Gaza. 01:17:51.540 --> 01:17:55.140 He said that during the Fox News appearance on October 10, 2023. 01:17:56.100 --> 01:18:04.180 On CNN on October 31, 2023, Abby Phillip asked whether there should be a threshold of civilian 01:18:04.180 --> 01:18:10.980 casualties at which the U.S. would tell Israel to pause. Lindsey Graham answered, no. Is there any limit? 01:18:11.400 --> 01:18:15.240 what Israel should do to the people who are trying to slaughter the Jews? 01:18:15.240 --> 01:18:17.240 The answer is no, there's no limit. 01:18:17.240 --> 01:18:19.240 There's no limit of civilian casualties. 01:18:19.240 --> 01:18:21.240 In a later interview, Graham said, 01:18:21.240 --> 01:18:23.240 just flatten it. 01:18:23.240 --> 01:18:25.240 We flattened Berlin, we flattened Tokyo. 01:18:26.400 --> 01:18:32.400 In May 2024, speaking about withholding bombs from Israel, he said, 01:18:32.400 --> 01:18:37.400 give Israel what they need to fight the war they can't afford to lose. 01:18:37.400 --> 01:18:42.400 This is Hiroshima and Nagasaki on steroids. 01:18:42.400 --> 01:18:48.400 In July 2025, he said Israel will launch a full military effort 01:18:48.400 --> 01:18:52.400 to take Gaza down like we did in Tokyo and Berlin. 01:18:53.000 --> 01:18:55.280 That's Lindsey Graham, folks. 01:18:55.280 --> 01:18:58.960 You know, the right-leaning Zionist Republicans 01:18:58.960 --> 01:19:04.060 that most Christians support are the real insiders of genocide. 01:19:04.060 --> 01:19:07.640 And the Bible never teaches ethnic supremacy. 01:19:07.640 --> 01:19:10.480 Anyway, let's look at Genesis chapter 9, verse number 4 01:19:10.480 --> 01:19:12.600 again, Genesis chapter 9, verse 4. 01:19:12.600 --> 01:19:13.600 The Bible says, 01:19:14.000 --> 01:19:20.520 Speak now thou in thine heart after the Lord thy God have cast them out from before thee saying for my righteousness 01:19:20.600 --> 01:19:26.060 The Lord hath brought me in to possess this land before the wickedness of these nations 01:19:26.060 --> 01:19:32.200 The Lord that drive them out from before thee so God specifically warns Israel not to think that way 01:19:32.320 --> 01:19:38.040 It's not about your righteousness before their wickedness, right? You know the Bible says in 01:19:38.900 --> 01:19:42.540 Leviticus chapter 18 verse 27, for all these abominations 01:19:42.540 --> 01:19:45.220 have the man of the land down which were before you, 01:19:45.220 --> 01:19:48.980 and the land is defiled, that the land spilled not you out 01:19:48.980 --> 01:19:52.700 also when ye defile it, as it spilled out the nations that 01:19:52.700 --> 01:19:55.460 were before you. 01:19:55.460 --> 01:20:00.500 So God, again, warns Israel the exact, 01:20:00.500 --> 01:20:03.100 God warns Israel not to think that they are so special. 01:20:03.800 --> 01:20:06.440 that they were a righteous group of people, 01:20:06.440 --> 01:20:09.440 God used them to fulfill his divine judgment. 01:20:09.440 --> 01:20:13.400 Go to 2 Chronicles 36, 2 Chronicles chapter 36. 01:20:16.900 --> 01:20:23.900 And I don't know why most saved Christians support Lindsey Graham, 01:20:23.900 --> 01:20:29.800 you know, especially Baptist pastors, like Pastor Jim Scudder. 01:20:33.000 --> 01:20:35.440 Saint Chronicles chapter 36, look at verse 16. 01:20:35.440 --> 01:20:38.920 Saint Chronicles 36, verse 16. 01:20:38.920 --> 01:20:39.900 The Bible says this. 01:20:42.200 --> 01:20:47.960 But they mocked the messengers of God, talking about Israel, and despised his words and misused 01:20:47.960 --> 01:20:52.160 his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no 01:20:52.160 --> 01:20:53.160 remedy. 01:20:53.160 --> 01:20:58.040 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, and slew their young men with 01:20:58.040 --> 01:21:03.360 a sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young men or maidens, 01:21:03.360 --> 01:21:05.880 old men or him that stood for age. 01:21:05.880 --> 01:21:07.880 He gave them all into his hand. 01:21:08.600 --> 01:21:14.840 So here God documented the judgment upon the nation of Israel because God is not a 01:21:14.840 --> 01:21:19.880 respecter of persons. God judged his own nation back in the Old Testament. 01:21:19.880 --> 01:21:24.920 So calling yourself Israel does not make every action you perform righteous. 01:21:26.000 --> 01:21:31.000 Not to mention that they are not the Israel of God, they are not the real Jews, it's the saved, amen? 01:21:31.000 --> 01:21:38.000 Having Jewish ancestry does not give a person a divine license to murder people. 01:21:38.000 --> 01:21:43.000 We do not excuse wickedness when Palestinians commit wickedness. 01:21:43.000 --> 01:21:48.000 We do not excuse wickedness when Israelis commit wickedness. 01:21:48.700 --> 01:21:55.300 We do not have one moral standard for one ethnicity and then we have another moral standard for another ethnicity 01:21:55.300 --> 01:21:57.300 because we are against partiality. 01:21:57.300 --> 01:22:01.300 And God is never a respecter of persons. 01:22:01.300 --> 01:22:05.800 So I said point number one, stop trying to save God from the Bible. 01:22:05.800 --> 01:22:09.500 Point number two, God did not judge those nations without cause. 01:22:09.500 --> 01:22:11.500 Point number three. 01:22:13.500 --> 01:22:17.700 God is always just, even when his judgment makes you uncomfortable. 01:22:17.700 --> 01:22:22.000 And point number four, God's judgment does not give us permission to commit ethnic cleansing. 01:22:23.300 --> 01:22:28.500 So to sum up the sermon, the question is, did God command genocide? 01:22:29.000 --> 01:22:36.400 If by that question you mean, did God command Israel to utterly destroy specific people, 01:22:36.400 --> 01:22:40.700 like men, women, and children, and the answer is yes. 01:22:41.800 --> 01:22:46.240 If you mean that God commanded Israel to destroy everyone 01:22:46.240 --> 01:22:48.600 solely because of their ethnicity, 01:22:48.600 --> 01:22:50.440 then the answer is no. 01:22:50.440 --> 01:22:52.640 So again, depends on your definition. 01:22:52.640 --> 01:22:55.140 But I'm not going to blame the scribes. 01:22:55.140 --> 01:22:58.700 I'm not going to call God's word problematic. 01:22:58.700 --> 01:23:02.000 I'm not going to pretend that this command is not there. 01:23:02.000 --> 01:23:03.720 I'm going to believe what the Bible says, 01:23:03.720 --> 01:23:04.880 and God is always right. 01:23:05.700 --> 01:23:09.620 So whenever you find a tough passage, do not explain it away. 01:23:09.620 --> 01:23:12.100 Do not change the words. Do not blame the scribe. 01:23:12.100 --> 01:23:15.460 Do not ban the Bible until the atheists approve of it. 01:23:16.100 --> 01:23:17.020 OK? 01:23:17.020 --> 01:23:21.140 Read it, believe it, study it, compare scripture with scripture. 01:23:21.140 --> 01:23:23.020 And when you have reached the limit 01:23:23.020 --> 01:23:26.460 of your human understanding, just remember, 01:23:26.460 --> 01:23:30.100 Shana the judge of all the earth do right, and yes, he shall. 01:23:30.100 --> 01:23:30.780 Amen? 01:23:30.780 --> 01:23:32.460 So let's close in a word of prayer. 01:23:32.460 --> 01:23:34.500 Thank you, all, for your help. 01:23:34.700 --> 01:23:36.980 for your word, and thank you for being a just God, 01:23:36.980 --> 01:23:39.180 and thank you for being a long-suffering God. 01:23:39.180 --> 01:23:41.260 But I pray that we will all study the Bible 01:23:41.260 --> 01:23:42.920 and to meditate upon your word, and not 01:23:42.920 --> 01:23:47.740 try to blame you just for the persecutions that we have. 01:23:47.740 --> 01:23:49.980 I pray that you will give us comfort 01:23:49.980 --> 01:23:51.260 when we go through tough times. 01:23:51.260 --> 01:23:53.000 And I pray this in Jesus' name, amen. 01:23:57.000 --> 01:23:59.000 Alright, amen. 01:23:59.640 --> 01:24:06.440 Last song's gonna be song 306. Song 306 in your hymn books. Have thine own way, Lord. 01:24:07.160 --> 01:24:09.160 Song 306. 01:24:10.160 --> 01:24:12.160 Have thine own way, Lord. 01:24:13.560 --> 01:24:15.560 On the first. 01:24:17.600 --> 01:24:27.400 Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way. 01:24:27.400 --> 01:24:36.800 Thou art the potter, I am the clay. 01:24:36.800 --> 01:24:40.000 Mold me and make me a 01:24:42.100 --> 01:24:49.300 After thy will, while I am waiting 01:24:55.600 --> 01:24:58.640 Have thine own way 01:25:00.800 --> 01:25:04.800 Have thine own way 01:25:05.300 --> 01:25:10.300 Search me and try me 01:25:10.800 --> 01:25:14.300 Lester today 01:25:14.800 --> 01:25:19.800 Whiter than snow, Lord 01:25:19.800 --> 01:25:24.300 Wash me just now 01:25:24.600 --> 01:25:33.960 As in Thy presence, humbly I bow. 01:25:33.960 --> 01:25:39.360 Have Thine own way, Lord. 01:25:39.360 --> 01:25:43.760 Have Thine own way. 01:25:43.760 --> 01:25:52.360 Wounded and weary, help me, I pray. 01:25:53.500 --> 01:26:03.420 Power, all power, surely is thine. 01:26:03.420 --> 01:26:12.700 Touch me and heal me, Savior divine. 01:26:12.700 --> 01:26:17.900 Have thine own way, Lord. 01:26:17.900 --> 01:26:20.020 Have thine own way. 01:26:22.400 --> 01:26:31.720 Hold are my being, absolute sway. 01:26:31.720 --> 01:26:41.680 Fill with thy spirit, till all shall see. 01:26:41.680 --> 01:26:45.200 Christ only always. 01:26:50.300 --> 01:26:53.500 Alright great singing brother way if you please close out with a word of prayer 01:27:27.500 --> 01:27:29.300 Amen, you are dismissed.