GOD HATES BLOODSHED

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2 Samuel 21:1 (AMPC)
“THERE WAS a three-year famine in the days of David, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. The Lord replied, it is on account of Saul and his bloody house, for he put to death the Gibeonites.”
 
Dear people of God, the actions and inactions of people in leadership position can have a very negative effect on a nation or family.
 
Today’s lead Holy Bible text above speaks of a 3-year famine that happened in the era of Israel’s second king, David. Upon enquiry from God Almighty, it was Divinely revealed that the problem was caused by Saul, Israel’s first king who went on a senseless extermination of their neighbours, the Gibeonites, with whom Israel centuries earlier had entered a covenant of peace without consulting God (Joshua 9:14-15).
 
It is pertinent to note that the Gibeonites had at this time deceived the Israelites into believing they were distant Ambassadors who were in need and it was after the covenant of peace that Israel discovered the Gibeonites were their immediate neighbours and since they had sworn by God not to harm them, they left them alone (Joshua 9:17-19).
 
Despite this disobedience to God’s command to take out all nations occupying the land He had given them, God respected this covenant because it was done by an oath to the Lord.
 
However, king Saul of Israel went on a rampage to destroy the Gibeonites centuries later, again without consulting God, an action that caused a famine after Saul’s reign because Saul violated the covenant and incurred God’s wrath upon the land – Joshua 9:20.
 
It was not until the Gibeonites were appeased, albeit with slaughter of 7 of king Saul’s descendants that God heard the prayers of the Israelites for rain for their land – 2 Samuel 21:14.
 
What is the lesson for us?
 
God hates shedding of innocent blood.
 
One may argue and ask why did God permit the shedding of innocent blood of the descendants of king Saul before He was appeased to grant rain to Israel for their land?
 
Recall God did not permit the Israelites to have any nation that did not know Him (God) to be around them but the Gibeonites tricked Israel into covenanting them to stay.
 
The Gibeonites only knew God from what they heard He did through Israel to other nations but they did not know God as their Father so they were unaware of God’s law concerning shedding of innocent blood; and so they gladly accepted when king David granted their request and surrendered 7 of king Saul’s descendants to them for slaughter in recompense.
 
David knew God hated bloodshed, but he did not consult God on the way forward so in doing this, he acted on his own human wisdom and fell into God’s permissive will.
 
Of course, David later found out the consequences of his actions when God declined his offer to build a temple for Him (God) because as God reminded him, his hand was full of bloodshed as a soldier – 1 Chronicles 22:6-8.
 
It is pertinent to also note here that even though God granted David the victories in battle over his enemies and Israel’s enemies, it was only God’s permissive will because God hates bloodshed.
 
You can therefore imagine why many nations today are experiencing a lot of natural and human disasters – earthquakes, famine, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, kidnap for ransom, banditry, ritual killings, etc. It is because of bloodshed within these nations and many other ungodly practices they engage in.
 
See what God says in Numbers 35:33-34 (AMPC), “So you shall not pollute the land in which you live; for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the bloodshed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it.
 
34 And you shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.
 
Can you now imagine God’s Divine anger at the atrocities committed every second the world over by abortionists and their supporters, shedding the blood of innocent unborn children?
 
According to World Health Organization statistics only, about 73 million innocent souls are murdered every year worldwide.
 
God hates bloodshed and those engage in this ungodly act must repent genuinely, refrain from their demonic action and return to God through Jesus Christ before it is too late.
 
Jesus’ coming for His children in the Rapture is imminent. Are you His child or are you born again? Are you ready for Him?
 
Come to Jesus Christ the Word of God today and now, for tomorrow or later may be too late for you.
 
May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus’ Most Holy Name, Amen.
 
Gabriel Ama.

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