ENLIGHTEN ME...

I am going through the old testament right now, currently I'm reading Joshua.

I was thinking as I was reading... Rahab lied to the her townsmen about hiding the Israelite spies. It helped Israel, she lied to do it, but it saved her and her family. Seems like she got away with sin... I'm confused.

About Israel acquiring the Promised Land... why did they have to invade occupied land? They massacred thousands of innocent people ( women, children and harmless men). Couldn't they just occupy non-populated land?

I guess I'm ignorant about these things. When I encounter areas of the bible that I can't understand, I just tell myself,God can do anything he wishes, he is God. But sometimes I wonder why he would allow entire races to be annihilated without giving them much of a chance.

Do any of you have any answers to my inquiries? Enlighten me please.