Mishpatim 18-7

The Eternal commanded the sons of Israel to evict and exterminate the seven nations that lived in the Promised Land. He didn't do it once but many times in many ways. A son of Kenaan can't live in the land of Israel. Why? Is the Eternal a racist?

The Torah gives us the answer to these questions. In this text as in many others the Eternal reveals that it is because of the wickedness of these nations that they didn't have the right to exist. HaShem has the right to rule over His world and if a people don't fulfill the seven basic laws given to all men, He takes disciplinary measures, and often times very severe ones.

Idolatry, free sex and violence are causes of the greatest punishment and these nations had totally surrendered to these forms of evil and more. Their idolatry was such that there was no solution for them anymore. Only one woman was saved from that evil world, Rachav (see book of Joshua).

The Eternal, who is good, wanted to help his sons and daughters, and to prevent them from falling in that same disastrous idolatry. That's why He ordered to exterminate them from the land completely. He also sent a very powerful angel before them in order to clean the air from these rebellious angels and evil spirits, that ruled over the region. The angel did his work in the air and the sons of Israel, guided by Yehoshua (Joshua), did theirs in the land. So they expelled most of the evil nations and changed the spirit upon the land.

So, the reason for the eviction of these nations had nothing to do with racism but with the evil practices of these peoples.

HaShem loves all and that's why He calls all to repentance. But the one who doesn't repent will suffer the consequences of his sin.

Beloved disciples of the Messiah, flee from idolatry in all its forms.

Shabat shalom,

Ketriel