What about babies being killed in the Old Testament (like in Hosea)?
Answer: First, let’s look at 2 Kings 8:12
Hazael asked, “Why are you crying, master?”
Elisha answered, “Because I know what evil you will do to the Israelites. You will burn their strong, walled cities with fire and kill their young men with swords. You will throw their babies to the ground and split open their pregnant women.”
Now let’s look at Hosea 13:16
“The nation of Israel will be ruined,
because it fought against God.
The people of Israel will die in war;
their children will be torn to pieces,
and their pregnant women will be ripped open.”
This is a prophecy of what would happen not directly from God, but as a result of God lifting His protective hand from the nation of Israel and having them reap what they sow. They act as if they don’t need God or want Him and His laws. God says OK have it your way and backs off. This leaves them vulnerable to the evil of the surrounding nations. One of the common practices of the Ammonites was to cut open pregnant women (Amos 1:13).
When we read the Old Testament (book of Judges especially) we see this repeating pattern for the nation of Israel:
The people turn to God and God delivers them >>The people turn against God and SIN>>>God removes His hand of protection and their enemies take them captive, oppress (and murder them)>>> They repented and turn back to God and He delivers them.
Peace>> Sin>>Oppression>>Repentance>>Deliverance and Restoration by God>>Peace>>Sin>>Oppression>>Repentance>>...etc
For more please see “Did God create evil?”
Hazael asked, “Why are you crying, master?”
Elisha answered, “Because I know what evil you will do to the Israelites. You will burn their strong, walled cities with fire and kill their young men with swords. You will throw their babies to the ground and split open their pregnant women.”
Now let’s look at Hosea 13:16
“The nation of Israel will be ruined,
because it fought against God.
The people of Israel will die in war;
their children will be torn to pieces,
and their pregnant women will be ripped open.”
This is a prophecy of what would happen not directly from God, but as a result of God lifting His protective hand from the nation of Israel and having them reap what they sow. They act as if they don’t need God or want Him and His laws. God says OK have it your way and backs off. This leaves them vulnerable to the evil of the surrounding nations. One of the common practices of the Ammonites was to cut open pregnant women (Amos 1:13).
When we read the Old Testament (book of Judges especially) we see this repeating pattern for the nation of Israel:
The people turn to God and God delivers them >>The people turn against God and SIN>>>God removes His hand of protection and their enemies take them captive, oppress (and murder them)>>> They repented and turn back to God and He delivers them.
Peace>> Sin>>Oppression>>Repentance>>Deliverance and Restoration by God>>Peace>>Sin>>Oppression>>Repentance>>...etc
For more please see “Did God create evil?”