Elements of God
A number of elements of God can be seen in the three battlesmentioned. Most evident is the fact that, as the Israelites are fighting aHoly War, God is the most important part of each battle. God is also shownby the selected passages as both omnipotent and all-powerful, as the giver When choosing victory for his people, God expects their loyalty inreturn. This loyalty is based upon display of God's power in Egypt (Deut.6:24). This is used as a reminder to keep God's laws f
In order to curb the possibility ofidolatry then, God commands that all human beings left alive in besiegedtowns should be killed so they cannot teach their idolatrous ways to God'speople (Deut 20:18). God does not hesitate to make an exampleof the disobedient, for whom the punishment is often death (Deut. God provides security forhis people while driving fear into the hearts of their enemies (Deut. His role as provider of security isthus coupled with his role as punisher in the case of disobedience. Joshua's warning to Israel suggests this fear (Josh 24:26). Another interesting element is that God also at times strikes fearinto the hearts of his own people. Thus,obedience is rewarded with upliftment, supremacy and security, while thereward of disobedience is fear. God and Israelthus has a rather ambivalent relationship, based upon a system of rewardand punishment according to Israel's obedience level. For this reason the element ofcomplete destruction of all that is alien to Israel is one of the essentialelements of engaging in God's battle. A furtherelement is the security that God provides in turn for following hisconditions for fighting battles and living life. The Holy War furthermore entails the requirement that God's peopleremain nationally and religiously pure. These are the conditions for God'scontinued support throughout the battles within the Holy War.
Common topics in this essay:
Holy War,
War God,
Egypt Deut,
God Israel,
,
holy war,
god provides,
god's people,
fear hearts,
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Acceptance Essays
