Friday: Further Thought – God Fights for You
Daily Lesson for Friday 31st of October 2025
Read Ellen G. White, “The Fall of Jericho,” Pages 491–493, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
As with everything in the Bible, knowing the context and the background is crucial. As we have seen, the cosmic conflict and the motif of God as judge are crucial in understanding these wars against the Canaanites.
“God is slow to anger. He gave the wicked nations a time of probation that they might become acquainted with Him and His character. According to the light given was their condemnation for refusing to receive the light and choosing their own ways rather than God’s ways. God gave the reason why He did not at once dispossess the Canaanites. The iniquity of the Amorites was not full. Through their iniquity they were gradually bringing themselves to the point where God’s forbearance could no longer be exercised and they would be exterminated. Until the point was reached and their iniquity was full, the vengeance of God would be delayed. All nations had a period of probation. Those who made void God’s law would advance from one degree of wickedness to another. Children would inherit the rebellious spirit of their parents and do worse than their fathers before them until God’s wrath would fall upon them. The punishment was not less because deferred.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 2, p. 1005.
Discussion Questions
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The issues brought to light this week are not new, nor have we provided answers that are so demonstrably true that we will convince everyone. It is also a reminder that in today's world we see depraved activity and have to live with its consequences. In our world we are continually exposed through the media to violence, sexual exploitation, human abuse, and gratuitous depravity, which becomes the "normal" background noise that we tune out.
Maybe it is time to remind ourselves that we are still in the battlefield and our job is not to build forts for us to hide in, but rather, a safe place for those affected by the battle.
Jesus had this to say:
There is work to be done. We could preach condemnation against evil, or we can get our hands dirty, showing compassion to the hurting.
Maybe it's not an either/or issue?
Perhaps we can warn against evil to save people from heartbreak and show compassion to the hurting?
Could warning against evil be part of "showing compassion"?
I understand what you are saying Inge, but in the real world, warning against evil often comes across as high-handed moralisation. In my research days I often attended conferences and seminars. Typically, there was a conference dinner where alcohol was freely available. Telling my close associates that drinking was bad for them before the event was like stopping the tide from coming in. Being there when they were so drunk they could not drive was my way of preaching to them. I could ensure they got back home in one piece. We did have some talks later but that was in the aftermath of compassion.
Maurice, the example you provide is one where being "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" is called for. 😉
There is a time and place for everything, and the situation you describe is clearly not one for warning about alcohol consumption!
Back in the day, the panacea for discipline was the cane. We'd often hear, (Proverbs 13:24). Rules governed us without explanation, and we adhered to them. The rod was a yardstick for discipline, teaching us to respect the elderly and teachers, manage time, make our beds, eat with our mouths shut, plan our study schedules, memorize Scripture, and show reverence in God's presence.
Times have changed, and so has our understanding. Today, the "rod" is viewed as a form of abuse and torture. We've come to interpret Proverbs 13:24 as "spare to guide, spoil the child," focusing on counsel, dialogue, and consensus-building with limited rebuke, while being mindful of mental health.
As we look at God's approach in taking over Canaan and settling His "chosen generation and royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), we see the carnage and desolation, but also the intent to fulfill a promise made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3).
The Scriptures mentions the sons of Issachar, who "understood the times and knew what to do" (1 Chronicles 12:32). Our times require us to appreciate what God did in the past and respond accordingly. The study of the last two weeks, should go beyond the wars and focus on understanding God's character and purpose, which remains unchanged - He loves, cares, provides, and saves (Malachi 3:6, Psalm 100:5).
You wrote,
That sounds very much as though you view the biblical counsel in Proverbs as "the understanding of the time," and that we now have progressed beyond such outdated counsel.
Do you really mean it that way?
As a young mother, the "experts" promoted competing viewpoints regarding child-rearing, and I knew I could not discern the good from the useless or the bad without help. So I decided to use biblical counsel and Ellen White's Child Guidance as a filter to sort out the good from the useless or the bad. That stood me in good stead. While a good understanding doesn't guarantee perfect results, but it sure helps! While child-rearing advice has swung like a pendulum over the years, but God's wisdom provided a sure guide.
When I taught in a large church school of another denomination, the provincial laws permitted physical punishment, even though it was no longer allowed in public schools. In my mind's eye I can still see one sturdy 9th-grader bragging that his parents were thinking of going to the newspapers to "expose" such cruel punishment as a strap on an outstretched hand. He noted, "Our elder talked them out of it." Then he chuckled, confiding, "I did really deserve it!"
One of our sons who attended the same school wrote a strong defense of corporal punishment (Prov. 13:34) to the newspaper when the subject came up for a discussion. And it wasn't because he had never experienced it.
The counsel in Proverbs does not suggest not explaining rules. In fact, God gave explicit instructions for teaching children diligently in the home and even when traveling. (Deut. 6:7) Ellen White also puts heavy emphasis on teaching. And she writes that rules should be few and well-considered - both in the home and in the school.
As a people we have ignored that counsel to our detriment, with parents and teachers creating far too many rules and then not enforcing them. It has led to such experiences as you relate - following rules without understanding them and missing the opportunity of learning godly reasoning.
Getting back to our lesson, we can see that some of the "judgments" God gave were adapted to the culture of the time, but the principles are still good today.
I get your perspective, Inge! You have referred to the first part of my comment, which was a baseline to bring context to the second part of my comment. My main subject was about essence, intent, and purpose. If this is understood, maybe we may not struggle understanding that God is very consistent. My comment was raising questions about the "thought process" of a harsh God of the Old Testament and a kind God of the New Testament. It should come to our comprehension that maybe the reason why we are struggling through these last two weeks is because we are using our current thinking (including moral codes) to interpret a different time. This was the foundation of the comment above.
The matter of child-raising is a huge debate, but maybe for another day. However, "outdated" may be a little out of stretch if you are looking at the context of my comment. The idea that times have changed is obvious, and approaches have also been updated. Understanding has even improved over time, and that does not conflict with Scripture at any point. Just look at the "rod" used in Proverbs 13:24; during my time, it was definitely a "cane," 🤣 🤣 but look deeper, and you'll notice that the writer was talking from a point of a shepherd (same as Psalm 23:4), meaning the rod was more of a guide, rescuer, and protector. The two approaches in parenting do not negate the principles set in Deuteronomy 6:6-9; in fact, they yearn to uphold this.
Modern thinking should not really mean a curse to the past. In fact, on the contrary, it should complement, and that was the basis of this comment. That it may look different but aims towards the same result - as you put it, it doesn't work always, but the intent, essence, and purpose are the central focus. God in Joshua and God in Matthew is all about love, redemption, restoration, salvation, and is to be worshipped and adored. That was the basis of the comment above.
I believe everyone will agree that the general approach to children punishment is different from what it was 40 to 50 years ago. Many of us can confirm this because we have lived and experienced first-hand, these changing times and children rearing methods.
However, let us be honest, in general, are the children and resulting adults from the modern child rearing method better than those of the "old" method? Today, the child guidance counselors are the psychologists, not the bible. So, let us be honest, which method is best?
That's a live problem there, Melvin!
By us, parents, taking a cosmetic or even absentee role in our children's growth, we risk allowing outsiders - teachers, preachers, psychologists - to take center stage. The best approach for a child isn't about modern or traditional methods, but about parents being deeply involved. It's heartbreaking that many Christian parents are known for their dedication and commitment at work, but are noticeably absent at home. Perhaps this is why Deuteronomy 6:6-9 places the onus squarely on parents to journey with their children, guiding them in the ways of the Lord. As parents, let's take our responsibility seriously and be present in our children's lives.
You wrote
Thanks, Stanley. I believe that biblical parenting always included the idea of "shepherding," as in the command to daily instruct children in the ways of God.
I have seen your claim before - that the "rod" mentioned in Prov. 13:24 represented the shepherd's rod, rather than a rod meant to inflict pain. So I decided to do a bit of research, and this is what I found:
1. The context of that text is a series of individual proverbs, with none related to shepherds.
2. Like all Hebrew words, the word šēbet translated as "rod" has many meanings (rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe), depending on context.
If you will compare other texts using the same word with a similar meaning (Ps 2:9; Ps. 89:32; Prov. 10:13; Prov. 22:15; Prov. 23:13-14; Prov. 26:3; Prov. 29:15), it becomes clear that the "rod" in Proverbs 13:24 was meant to convey a similar messsage as Prov. 23:13, which always makes me chuckle:
"Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die."
No, he won't die, but he will likely live a more productive life.
From your first comment I gather that you believe that understanding of child rearing has progressed, and that modern ways are an improvement over older ways. And in the latest comment, you appear to suggest that the biblical and modern ways of child rearing are complementary.
Now I agree that good instruction and physical correction are complementary, and I believe they are both part of the biblical model. But I believe that society has become degraded due to parental neglect and/or the desire to be kinder than God. My experience in education tells me that young people feel much safer and are happier with strong parental guidance - protective rails, so to speak. For instance, in my high school classes, the students from strict homes were consistently more respectful and appreciative of their parents than those coming from permissive homes where parents provided children with a lot of material goods.
(Abusive parenting is another matter.)
Ellen White actually had some pretty liberal views on corporal punishment for the time she lived in. Harsh discipline was often the norm in the 1800s and not just for the very worst offenses, but that wasn't her perspective.
Here is one quote from Child Guidance.
Whipping may be necessary when other resorts fail, yet she [mother] should not use the rod if it is possible to avoid doing so. But if milder measures prove insufficient, punishment that will bring the child to its senses should in love be administered. Frequently one such correction will be enough for a lifetime, to show the child that he does not hold the lines of control." ( Child Guidance , p. 250)
The people of my grandparents generation and to some extent my parent's generation often experienced harsh corporal punishment. Yes, it probably made a lot of them obedient, but it created barriers with parents and authority figures that never went away. One older man in my church mentioned that the majority of men his age in the church had bad relationships with their fathers and some had even cut them off. So that is something to consider when we long for the good old days.
Of course today, very few children are spanked at all and we are probably reaping the consequences of that.
I guess there needs to be balance. Every child is different. I got a few spankings before I started school, but when I was older, my dad told me that spanking didn't work for me because I really did try to behave and was very upset by it. Other children react more positively to the same correction.
Probably the biggest problem with corporal punishment is that it is very often directed and given in anger. Many children get a spanking that they wouldn't get if the parent was calm and it's easy for discipline to be too harsh for the same reason.
Proverbs ultimately is a book of wisdom, but it is not a "In every situation this is always true" kind of book, at least for most of the proverbs. I have seen children who never were spanked turn out very well. Other parents have similar success with corporal punishment. Each family needs to make the decision that is right for them.
Though God is often called the God of peace (Romans 15:33), the reality of violence and conflict in our world reveals the depth of human sin and separation from Him. From the earliest stories in Scripture Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:8) we see how disobedience disrupts the peace (shalom) God intended. Yet even amid violence, God works to restore harmony. Through Jesus Christ, “He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14), reconciling humanity to God and breaking down the walls of hostility between people. God’s peace is not simply the absence of war, but the presence of righteousness, justice, and restored relationship.
As followers of Christ, Christians are called to be agents of this divine peace in a broken world. Jesus blesses the peacemakers, saying, “they shall be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9), reminding believers that peacebuilding reflects God’s very character. Paul urges, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Promoting peace means confronting injustice, forgiving others, and embodying Christ’s love in action and truth. In doing so, Christians become living witnesses to the God who transforms violence into reconciliation and chaos into shalom.
Eve trusted in her own understanding instead of clinging fully to God’s Word and presence. Her partial knowledge and independence left her vulnerable to deception. This teaches us that human wisdom and memory alone cannot stand against Satan’s cunning. Our safety is in constant dependence on Christ and His Word rightly understood. When we abide in Him, God Himself fights for us.
Many today emphasize God’s love, compassion, and mercy while neglecting His justice and judgment. This imbalance distorts the biblical revelation of God’s character. Scripture consistently presents God as both infinitely loving and perfectly just. “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face” (Psalm 89:14). To highlight one aspect while ignoring the other is to create a false image of God—one shaped by human sentiment rather than divine revelation.
When justice is separated from love, sin is trivialized, and grace becomes cheap. The cross itself testifies that God’s mercy does not nullify His justice but satisfies it. As Paul wrote, God set forth Christ “to declare His righteousness… that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:25–26). In other words, God’s forgiveness rests on the foundation of His justice, not in spite of it.
Ellen White affirms this balance: “God’s love has been expressed in His justice no less than in His mercy. Justice is the foundation of His throne, and the fruit of His love” (The Desire of Ages, p. 762). When people reshape Scripture to fit a one-sided view, they risk losing the moral seriousness of sin and the transforming power of grace.
When Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), He spoke from His own experience of total dependence on the Father.
When He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1), He faced Satan’s temptations not by relying on His divine power, but by trusting and obeying the Word of God and being sustained by the Holy Spirit. Every answer He gave—“It is written…”—showed His dependence on His Father’s will, not His own strength.
So when He tells us that apart from Him we can do nothing, He’s inviting us to live as He lived:
Fully surrendered to God’s Word
Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Trusting in divine strength, not human effort
Hillary - Thank you for pointing out this Truth! Your three points highlight what 'having our being in Christ' means.
Like Jesus - it is imperative to be filled by God's Spirit unto Life whiles living in this world. It protects us, because we are not guided by the world's spirit any longer but by God's Holy Spirit and His Word, though still needing to live in this world.
Jesus' life is our example to 'see' the fullness of God's Spirit at work in man.
There might be a mix of feelings regarding God's Justice. 1) We are not God, thus the ultimate judgment is His; 2)Thus, we cannot see people's hearts completely; 3)We must learn to develop patience and turn to God to solve what's intangible to us.
God respects our freedom because love demands it.
Love without freedom is manipulation, and freedom without love becomes selfishness.
The two exist together — freedom gives love meaning, and love gives freedom purpose.
God is love yet sometimes we are not fully convinced that this love is truly God Himself. The truth is, without God, even our best efforts amount to nothing. It is written that unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain; unless He watches over the city, the watchmen stay awake in vain.
Noah’s story reminds us of this. He built the ark according to God’s exact instructions not according to his own wisdom or expectations. He didn’t know how many would enter, yet he trusted and obeyed. Without God’s guidance, we would simply wander, no matter how great our plans seem.
Love finds its direction and power only in God for without Him, both love and freedom lose their true purpose.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I thank God for His wonderful love revealed through Jesus Christ. As I have been sharing Steps to Christ with families in the community, many have expressed deep appreciation for the love of God and have begun to understand His character more clearly through the Spirit’s guidance.
Truly, the first step in sharing the gospel is sharing God’s love and that love begins to transform souls.
I humbly ask for your prayers that God may provide more Steps to Christ booklets and Bibles to share with others in the field. May the Lord continue to bless this ministry, open hearts, and grow us all in His wisdom through the enabling of His Spirit.
> “For the love of Christ compels us…” — 2 Corinthians 5:14
May God bless and keep each of you as we labor together in His vineyard.
With love in Christ,
Hillary Rotich