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From Eternity Past
thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear
report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.”
How God Revealed His Love to Wicked Nations
These nations on the borders of Canaan would have been spared
had they not stood, in defiance of God’s word, to oppose Israel. The
Lord gave Abraham the promise, “In the fourth generation they shall
come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”
Genesis 15:16
. God spared them four hundred years to give unmis-
takable evidence that He was the only true God. All His wonders in
bringing Israel from Egypt were known to them. They might have
known the truth, but they rejected the light and clung to their idols.
When the Lord brought His people a second time to the borders of
Canaan, additional evidence of His power was granted those heathen
nations. They saw that God was with Israel in the victory over King
Arad and the Canaanites and in the miracle to save those perishing
from the sting of the serpents. The Israelites in all their journeyings and
encampments had done no injury to the people or their possessions. On
reaching the border of the Amorites, Israel had asked permission only
to travel directly through the country, promising to observe the same
rules that had governed their intercourse with other nations. When the
Amorite king refused and defiantly gathered his hosts for battle, their
cup of iniquity was full, and God would now exercise His power for
their overthrow.
The Israelites crossed the river Arnon and advanced upon the foe.
An engagement took place. The armies of Israel were victorious, and
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they were soon in possession of the country of the Amorites. The
Captain of the Lord’s host vanquished the enemies of His people. He
would have done the same thirty-eight years before, had Israel trusted
in Him.
The army of Israel eagerly pressed forward and soon reached a
country that might well test their courage and faith in God. Before
them lay the powerful kingdom of Bashan, crowded with great stone
cities that to this day excite the wonder of the world—“threescore cities
... with high walls, gates, and bars, besides unwalled towns a great
many.” The houses were constructed of huge black stones, of such
size as to make the buildings impregnable to any force brought against