THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2
Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-3, Deuteronomy 25:17-19

1 Samuel 15:1-3, “Samuel also said to Saul, ‘The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.”’” What did Amalek do to incite God’s judgment? The answer is in Deuteronomy 25:17-19 which says, “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore it shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget.” God said to remember what Amalek did. Amalek conducted war in a dishonorable way so that the primary result was the destruction of innocent men, women and children. When the Israelites were trekking through the wilderness, they waited until the end of the day and attacked those at the very end of the procession, where the elderly, women and children were. This cruelty angered God and in response God said to kill Amalek and everyone with him. This passage helps us understand what qualifies people or organizations for God’s judgment – the dishonorable and cowardly who cause death and destruction of innocents. Islam is just like Amalek.