Introduction: There is a phrase repeated 7 times in this passage that probably offends the sensibilities of 20th century Americans, "he left no survivors." Six Canaanite cities were totally eliminated by Joshua, at God's command. This is difficult for those who have been taught all their lives that God is always sweet and kind, and would never command genocide. How can we get a grip on this passage and others like it in the Bible? Some people just skip over, and pretend they don't exist. Others say that the God of the Old Testament was just a misconception. The Old Testament writers were a product of barbarous times, and they are just wrong. Marcion, the early heretic, said there were two Gods, one good and one evil. Kind of like the "Force" that we hear about in Star Wars. But the real answers come to us as we search the Scriptures. The average American is suffering from misunderstandings in three particulars:

I. We have a misunderstanding about the sixth commandment.
A. The KJV translated it wrong in 1611, and we have been mixed up 400 years!
B. Thou shalt not "kill" is really: thou shalt not "murder."
To murder: "To kill on purpose, unjustly, with malice, without authorization
from God..." (Car accidents, defending family from an intruder, killing a
patient you are trying to heal, etc, are not murder.)
C. God often commanded execution as punishment for sins and crimes:
Genesis 9:5-6; Exodus 21:15-16; 21:28-29; 22:18-20 and many others.
D. So, there is no conflict with the ten commandments.

II. We have a misunderstanding about the goodness of man.
A. How many times have you heard someone say "I believe people are
basically good"? Many people believe this, but it is not true. In fact,
mankind is basically more sinful than almost anyone imagines.
B. The first man born into the world committed murder (Cain).
C. God destroyed the entire world once due to our sins (Gen. 6:5-6; 11-13).
(We are the same today, see the Times movie review page...)
D. Consider Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:19; Romans 3:9-18; etc. etc.
E. The Canaanites were extremely sinful. For example, they worshipped
Moloch (see article in Zondervan Pictorial Dictionary). They deserved death.

III. We have a misunderstanding about the tolerance level of God.
A. Our generation has created its own gods in their own image.
1. "The Force," an impersonal spirituality of both good and evil.
2. The earth goddess, the earth itself.
3. "WE are all god," we just need to seek our inner selves.
4. Probably most would claim to believe in the God of the Bible, but they
have recreated Him into a tame, safe God, who forgives everyone no
what, and who tolerates all kinds of sin, and other religions.
(2 Timothy 3:1-7 predicted this.) "A form of godliness."
B. What is the real God really like?
1. Not like us (Isaiah 55:8-9).
2. Not egalitarian (Exodus 20:4-6).
3. Not forgiving to everyone (Hebrews 10:26-31).
Those who reject God's offer of Jesus are in big trouble!

Conclusion: So, people are offended by Joshua because they have three misunderstandings about the Bible, and about God. First, the 6th commandment forbids murder, not executions of the wicked. Second, the human race is not sweet, kind, nice and deserving of God's approval; rather we are deeply sinful, immoral and violent. Third, God is not eternally tolerant of evil, but He is completely holy. He demands righteousness on the earth, and He WILL bring it to pass. (Psalm 11:4-7). Amen!