God wants the destruction of innocents?

[Mark51]

The Amalekites did not fear God and unreasonably harassed/warred with the ancient Israelites; therefore, He pronounced their total destruction.-Exodus 17:14-16; Deuteronomy 25:18, 19; 1 Samuel 15:2, 3.

 

[kcnalp]

Ok so I came across the verse of 1 Samuel 15:3 in which the Israelites are to destroy everything of the Amalekites. I did a bit of background and reading on this and the Amalekites often lied and attacked Israel. However the destruction of women, children, cattle, and everything? If God is supposed to be merciful and loves all of his creations equally, why would he demand the complete destruction of innocent women, children, babies, and animals. Babies and animals can't even do anything. If anyone can answer this that would be great. Thank you.

Genesis 7:17-23
17 Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.
18 The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters.
19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered.
20 The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered.
21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man.
22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died.
23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.

 

[Tayla]

the Israelites are to destroy everything of the Amalekites.

the destruction of women, children, cattle, and everything? If God is supposed to be merciful and loves all of his creations equally, why would he demand the complete destruction of innocent women, children, babies, and animals. Babies and animals can't even do anything. If anyone can answer this that would be great.

There is no answer. One thing which is *not* an answer: that God punishes innocents (people and animals) for the sins and wickedness of others.

 

[Carl Emerson]

My guess is that their community became radically contaminated spiritually like with Sodom.

 

[mmksparbud]

The Amalekites had gotten totally depraved. They did not just worship false Gods, for every one, outside of Israel, worshipped false Gods. They had descended to human and child sacrifice. They had contaminated everything about them. Even the ground and animals were cursed. They raised what children weren't scarified to be like themselves. However, they were not all killed---Saul had spared the King and some cattle and other pockets survived---it took 500 years, but the survivors --namely Haman, came close to wiping out all of Israel. Had the Israelites done as they were supposed to have done---Esther would not have had to risk her life to try and save her people.

 

[kcnalp]

How many children died in the Genesis flood?

 

[Carl Emerson]

I think that some who question God about what He does are taking the position of His Judge.

The fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom and there are many not even at this square one...

We all want justice but don't want to trust the perfect Judge.