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The divine command, then, was not misconceived. We may see plainly now
its wisdom and real kindness. But Israel made an unwise and unholy
compromise. By this compromise that was made, the surrounding heathen
tribes in some cases were spared. The consequence was that there was a
constant incitement to idolatry. Again and again, Israel fell into this
sin, and paid severely for their crime. I think it is not too much to
say that had Israel inflexibly carried out the divine command, the
Jewish nation might have been the strongest in the world to-day.
But what has all this to do with the theory of Restoration? A great
deal. In the light of that larger truth, extermination was not the harsh
measure that at the first glance it seems. It was simply the removal of
those incorrigible races to other scenes where they would have better
chances of reform; and it was the removal of a constant snare to Israel.
Under the old idea, those heathen tribes were consigned to eternal
torment. Even for the women and children there was no escape. They were
not fit for Heaven; so they must all go to hell; that was the naked,
bald idea. Even if the children were saved, how were they prepared for
the scenes of bliss? But when we once entertain the idea of a future
process of reformation, a door of hope is opened for the worst of them.
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