Typically, the articles posted here appeared first in the Friday/Saturday edition of the Lake City Reporter, our local newspaper. After some reflection the original article was rearranged to lend more logical continuity to this post. The substance of both is the same.
Marty Sampson is at it again, based on what God commanded King Saul regarding Amalek, Marty questions the holy nature and love of God in a post on Instagram, because He ordered Saul, “Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant,” 1 Samuel 15:3.
After the treacherous attack by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, America was dragged into World War II and soon the bloodletting in the Pacific began in earnest. After the costly victory of Iwo Jima, our military leaders advised president Harry Truman that the attack and invasion of Japan would likely cost a million American casualties.
We had developed the atomic bomb and Truman hoped unleashing it on Japan would convince the Japanese to surrender and ultimately save American lives. The atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, over Hiroshima and later over Nagasaki.
Eighty thousand Japanese men, women, children and infants were instantly incinerated. Many more died in the aftermath from the radioactive poison in “black rain.” Though some today may question Truman’s decision, I do not believe there were many Americans who did then.
Most Americans did not question the morality of Truman’s decision, nor believe our nation was unjust in its desire to end the war in the Pacific with as few American casualties as possible; a war we did not start.
History has a way of giving us a fresh perspective of what is just or unjust. I think it is both foolish and arrogant at this remove to question God’s actions and orders then when we are clearly not in possession of all the facts. I have a very high view of the holiness of God and cannot imagine Him ordering this attack on the Amalekites without just cause.
While we do not know all the reasons God commanded the destruction of Amalek, we do know Amalek was historically hostile to Israel and would have annihilated Israel if they had the opportunity. The divine imperative was certainly a preemptive defensive attack to secure Israel’s existence and mankind’s salvation.
The Messiah was prophesied to arise from the bloodline of Israel and the annihilation of Amalek insured the Messiah would be born to die for the sins of the world. It was God’s love for mankind that prompted the destruction of Amalek.
If we killed men, women, children and infants to save lives, who are we to judge God for doing the same. And it is certainly hypocritical to judge what God has commanded while we have the blood of sixty million aborted babies on our hands.
Marty claims he is not trying to influence anyone, but why does he feel it necessary to publish his infidelity publicly on Instagram? Is he trying to justify turning his back on God?
“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 5:10. Having turned his back on the only sure Advocate, who will plead Marty’s case? He should remember Amalek.
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