I'm sure you noticed this before, at least if you are a pastor or an elder. You, probably at least had a seminary prof tell you this, although you have forgotten.
When Israel enters the Promised Land, they are told not to go after the Edomites because that land had been given to Esau. Also, they are told not to mess with the Ammonites and Moabites. If you recall, Lot's daughters got him drunk and slept with him after they had escaped Sodom. The resulting children were Ammon and Moab, the fathers of the Ammonites and Moabites.
So, God honored all of these men and their tribes, Esau who is Edom, Ammon and the Ammonites and Moab and the Moabites. He honored them and gave them ample opportunity and time to declare their allegiance to Yahweh. Alas, they did not do so and were a constant thorn in the flesh to Israel. Eventually, judgment is pronounced against them in Ezekiel 25.
Ezekiel 25 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them; 3And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity; 4Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk. 5And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 6For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; 7Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
8Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen; 9Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim, 10Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations. 11And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD. 12Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them; 13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword. 14And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.
I think all of this speaks of God' great patience and kindness. But also of the nature of covenant, covenant keeping and breaking, election, and many other theological issues. God is always faithful, gives much room for repentance, but in the end judges sin and rebellion. Israel also rebelled repeatedly. But eventually God brings the antidote to all rebellion, the Lord Jesus as Christ, the Messiah and His Holy Spirit. So, the covenant lines receive all of this and those will not covenant with Yahweh, Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, eventually are cut off completely.
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