Human sacrifice is the thread that connects the ancient Israelites, Herman Cortes, and the current flood of migration. More specifically, God’s hatred of it.
- God’s judgment on societies that brazenly endorse lawlessness usually comes through external parties, such as the Israelites destruction of the Canaanites. (But not always, cf. Genesis 19:24-25). Cortes, unwittingly or intentionally, brought such to the Aztec nation.
- The Canaanites feared the Israelites because they recognized YHWH among them, and sensed that their gods could not protect them. (Joshua 2:9-11) Is fear of migrants really fear that God’s favor is not on us?
- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelt in tents as a sign to the Canaanites of impending judgment. However, it is faith and obedience that God honors, not external behaviors.
Abraham was a migrant who is credited with looking for that city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10) He did not find a resting place in the world, did not receive what was promised, because God has provided something better than a city of gold. (Hebrews 11:39) The Israelites later left Egypt under duress. Joshua led them to dispossess and destroy the Canaanites under orders, because their iniquity was ripe. (Genesis 15:16)
Was Herman Cortes directed by God like Joshua, or simply God’s unwitting tool, to end an evil culture that worshipped false gods through human sacrifice? The church eventually sent missionaries and priests to follow and travel with the soldiers as the Spanish empire developed. Visible reminders of this can be seen along the Rio Grande in New Mexico and El Camino Real in California. Coronado later searched in vain for cities of gold, with no mention of human sacrifice by the Zuni (that I can find).
Contrast this with the pilgrims and puritans who came to New England. They came looking for freedom, especially to worship without being under the thumb of the Church of England. They attempted to convert the native Americans. They prospered, but not in the sense of finding treasure troves of gold. Their legacy is the culture and belief system that underlies the founding of this nation.
What are modern migrants seeking? Most likely, a better life. Is the attraction of moving from Central America to the U. S. as a citadel of faith and freedom to worship God according to their own conscience? Fleeing poverty and oppression? Perhaps is the opportunity they seek framed entirely in economic and political terms? The streets of Los Angeles are not paved with gold. The most recent pictures suggest that what awaits migrants is much more akin (in physical terms) to dwelling in tents, but even so, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? (Hebrews 11:9). Unfortunately, the homeless tent encampments in major cities seem to be largely characterized by drug abuse, crime (the homeless being mostly victims), and begging for survival.
The city of The Angels in Southern California is not the earthly realization of that City described in Revelation 21, which the heroes of faith sought per their encomium in Hebrews 11. Those already living in the U.S. and enjoying the earthly fruit of early immigrants’ heritage may or may not be inclined to share with new migrant arrivals, depending on their political persuasion. Their souls are just as much at risk as the souls of those seeking earthly empire like Cortes, if they focus on the things of this world instead of seeking the God of creation and redemption.
Do modern human sacrifices of abortion to the gods of convenience, pleasure, craven lust, irresponsibility, or ambition result in God using migrants to destroy our society and culture just as Joshua did the Canaanites and Cortez the Aztecs? Is this really about migrants, or God’s chastisement (and warning) to us? Several states have instituted laws significantly limiting abortion, which the liberal establishment hopes to nullify through the courts. But what of the people of our nation? It makes little difference who wins in courts or legislatures if we, the people, rebel against God. Redemption is found only through repenting of and changing our mind about our own sin, and receiving the gracious gift of God, so that we change our lives.
A closing observation: The gods whom the Canaanites served with human sacrifice were powerless against YHWH. The evil of human sacrifice is ultimately impotent. (Joshua 2:24)
