Subject: You shall not Murder, then told too?? |
Bible Note: OK, from the text, this was right after Moses came down the side of the mountain with the Ten Commandments. When he came down, the people had created their god (golden calf) for whom they would worship, breaking the First AND Second Commandments right out the gate! God was angry (rightfully so) at the people who He had brought out, who yet again denied Him. He commanded Moses to kill them, because they had committed a sin against God. Their judgement was handed out and their penalty for their sin was death. Basically, God's killing of people comes from His own judgement: people who have been and are actively against Him and His word. I believe that when God says "Thou shalt not kill", He means that we have no right to kill anyone by ourselves; that judgement is reserved only for God. To committ such an act is questioning God and His ways, but even then He's still just and graceful (The Lord still using Moses after he killed a man is a perfect example). God has commanded the death of many tribes (with Exodus and Joshua being examples of books in which "holy wars" were enacted) and that of many people, but the theme for these deaths remains the same: They have all sinned against God. Hope that helps. Questions? Feel free! Comments? Serve 'em up! |