Who said this?

[Patinak]

If as a believer, you know that God is in control of everything, and someone dies, it would be pretty easy to say God killed that person, after all, he is in control of everything. 

The wages of sin is death.
The people that were killed were doing despicable deeds.
If there is no resurrection this would be pointless. The very point Paul makes in 1 Cor 15 about " if there is no resurrection then we should be pitied the most."

I.M.O these people were killed because they were a law unto themselves. Worshipping other gods as well as sacrificing to those gods. Killing them would highlight this wrong way of worship to the Jews.
Seems to show the whole purpose of the law was to establish behavioural patterns which would be better by which to live. Breaking the law needs a price to be paid. The whole concept of Christ paying the price, which had not happened yet for them.

All depicting the need for grace to cover a multitude of sins.

Ross,
Thanks for your reply.
One thing I definitely agree with is the need for grace.
However, if we read the following passage literally, I can't imagine that the infant and suckling were doing 'despicable deeds':

[1Sa 15:3 KJV] 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

Maybe it is that I have been so used to God showing me the importance of each one of his creation, that when I read about this kind of "wholesale" killing, it just doesn't seem to resonate with the better way that Jesus came to teach.

Pat

[gregoryfl]

Ronen and jabcat,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post, I have the greatest respect for you both.
I totally understand that I am walking a thin line bringing up such things that might be perceived as questioning scripture inerrancy.  Actually, just the opposite is true, but for now I will just keep praying for answers.

Pat

Thank you for your kind words. If you look candidly at scripture, you often see the same sort of struggle, so you are in good company. As an aside, when I speak of man's perspective, I do not see this as separated from God's hand and inspiration, for very often we see he himself expressing things according to man's reality in this physical world. I truly believe that as you struggle and pray through this, if you adopt the mindset that embraces the totality of what you see as contradiction, instead of embracing only the one in favor of the other, your journey will be one of discussion, and discovery.

Ronen

[Patinak]

Ronen and jabcat,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post, I have the greatest respect for you both.
I totally understand that I am walking a thin line bringing up such things that might be perceived as questioning scripture inerrancy.  Actually, just the opposite is true, but for now I will just keep praying for answers.

Pat

Thank you for your kind words. If you look candidly at scripture, you often see the same sort of struggle, so you are in good company. As an aside, when I speak of man's perspective, I do not see this as separated from God's hand and inspiration, for very often we see he himself expressing things according to man's reality in this physical world. I truly believe that as you struggle and pray through this, if you adopt the mindset that embraces the totality of what you see as contradiction, instead of embracing only the one in favor of the other, your journey will be one of discussion, and discovery.

Ronen

This is why I love it here, abundant wisdom and kindness.
I will meditate on your suggestions, thanks.
Pat

[jabcat]

Ronen and jabcat,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post, I have the greatest respect for you both.
I totally understand that I am walking a thin line bringing up such things that might be perceived as questioning scripture inerrancy.  Actually, just the opposite is true, but for now I will just keep praying for answers.

Pat

:handshake:  Continuing to pray about it and look to the Lord is the way to go!  I wrote what I did, not that I am even close to personally having my own understanding of it all - not at all.  More so, basic guidelines that I believe need to stay in place, whether I/we understand fully or not.   :2c:   

[jabcat]

Thank you for your kind words. If you look candidly at scripture, you often see the same sort of struggle, so you are in good company. As an aside, when I speak of man's perspective, I do not see this as separated from God's hand and inspiration, for very often we see he himself expressing things according to man's reality in this physical world. I truly believe that as you struggle and pray through this, if you adopt the mindset that embraces the totality of what you see as contradiction, instead of embracing only the one in favor of the other, your journey will be one of discussion, and discovery.

Ronen

:nod:

[Cardinal]

Ronen and jabcat,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post, I have the greatest respect for you both.
I totally understand that I am walking a thin line bringing up such things that might be perceived as questioning scripture inerrancy.  Actually, just the opposite is true, but for now I will just keep praying for answers.

Pat

Thank you for your kind words. If you look candidly at scripture, you often see the same sort of struggle, so you are in good company. As an aside, when I speak of man's perspective, I do not see this as separated from God's hand and inspiration, for very often we see he himself expressing things according to man's reality in this physical world. I truly believe that as you struggle and pray through this, if you adopt the mindset that embraces the totality of what you see as contradiction, instead of embracing only the one in favor of the other, your journey will be one of discussion, and discovery.

Ronen

:cloud9: Amen. Over the years, every time I THOUGHT there was a contradiction, I later found out I just didn't have enough or the right information, but once I did, it all fit together perfectly like the elaborately designed "puzzle" it is. Of it's perfection, I HAVE NO DOUBT. My  :2c: Blessings....