Licensed to Kill?

Does the Old Testament condone genocide? Didn't GOD command the Israelites to kill the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites? (Deu 20:17) Some say this is no different than terrorists and extremist groups today.

On the surface it may appear so, but there is a subtle and important difference. Jehovah never allowed the Israelites to decide for themselves who to go to war with. Joshua was ordered to fight against the Canaanites, but Ahab was ordered NOT to fight against the Syrians. GOD supported the Israelites against the Philistines, but then ordered the Israelites to surrender to the Babylonians.

Why does this matter? By way of analogy, consider the government. Most governments have been given the right to regularly confiscate a certain amount property from nearly every private citizen. This process is called taxation. If a citizen were to confiscate the property of another citizen, that process would be called stealing. But here's the key point: the government also has the right to hire a regular citizen as an agent to collect taxes on its behalf. What is the difference between a legitimate tax collector, and a thief? A duly appointed tax collector is working on behalf on the government and can only collect taxes from specific people, at the specified time, for the specified amount. This is the same difference between the Israelites and an extremist group.

Imagine if you were the owner of an apartment building. You have many tenants, and some of them aren't even paying rent. You alone have the right to evict any tenant, especially if they mistreat the other tenants. (Mat 21:33-42) However, tenants do not have the right to evict each other. But you may choose hire one of the tenants to be your representative, including serving eviction notices to other tenants.

With GOD, it is the same principle but on a higher scale. GOD is the landlord because He created the apartment building. In fact He created the tenants too. GOD has the sovereign right to give life and to take it away any time He wants, but He can also delegate this responsibility to His workmen. Sadly, many throughout history have falsely claimed to be GOD's workmen.  Some of them used the name of GOD to legitimize their bid for power. Others really believed they were doing GOD's will. (Mat 7:21-23) Instead of working for GOD, they have falsely shed the blood of anyone they considered to be an enemy. But either way, these misguided activities do not change the reality of GOD and His actual appointed workmen one bit. And how can there can be peace if the people of GOD can not or will not distinguish between the two?