The Old Testament can be challenging for modern Christians. Passages detailing violence and seemingly harsh judgments can raise difficult questions about the nature of God. How can a loving God command such actions? This is a critical question that deserves thoughtful consideration. This guide offers a framework for understanding and appreciating the Old Testament, even its most troubling parts.
Atheist critiques, such as those from Charles Templeton, who described the “God of the Old Testament” as unjust and vindictive, and Richard Dawkins, who called Him a “vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser,” often stem from passages like Deuteronomy 20:16-17: “…you shall not leave alive anything that breathes. But you shall utterly destroy them…”
Other examples include the flood (Genesis 6:17), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24-25), the destruction of Jericho (Joshua 6:21), the command to destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3), and instances like Solomon killing 30 men in Judges 14:19.
These episodes raise crucial questions:
- How can a loving God command killing?
- Is death a just punishment?
- Why were children included in these commands?
- How does this reconcile with the commandment against murder (Exodus 20:13)?
- Does God endorse ethnic cleansing?
While these are complex questions, satisfactory and reasonable explanations exist. Let’s explore some key principles.
1. Context is King
Understanding the historical and cultural context is paramount. Don’t cherry-pick verses; read the surrounding chapters and books to grasp the full picture. John Dickson, in A Doubter’s Guide to the Bible, emphasizes the importance of context, comparing it to walking into the middle of a show like Downton Abbey.
Robin Schumacher, in his article “Is the God of the Old Testament a merciless monster,” illustrates this point with the Genesis flood. While it appears God drowned innocent people, a closer reading reveals that “the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).
Schumacher highlights a common pattern:
- God declares judgment for extreme sin.
- Warning is given, offering an opportunity to repent.
- Someone is often saved from the judgment.
- God’s judgment falls.
2. God-Ordained Violence as Judgement
Unlike random acts of violence, God-ordained violence in the Old Testament functions as judgment against profound evil. The Canaanites, for example, were known for “extreme cruelty, incest, idolatry, bestiality, homosexuality, cultic prostitution, and child sacrifice.”
Dr. Iain Provan highlights the connection between violence and justice, emphasizing that God’s response is not arbitrary but considered judgment. When God commands violence, it is always pursuing justice.
3. Warning Before Judgement
God desires repentance, not death. Ezekiel 33:11 states, “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.”
Exodus 34:6 describes God as “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” This love motivates God to give ample warning before enacting judgment. The Canaanites, for instance, were given over 400 years to repent (Genesis 15:13-16, Deuteronomy 7:22).
4. Not Ethnic Cleansing, But Just Punishment
God’s patience allows some to repent, demonstrating that these acts are not ethnic cleansing. Rahab (Joshua 2) and the Gibeonites (Joshua 9) are examples of those who received mercy. Repentance transcends ethnicity; anyone can receive God’s mercy.
5. God’s Justice is Infallible
God’s judgment is always just. Deuteronomy 32:4 declares, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Psalm 145:17 echoes this: “The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.”
God never punishes more or less than deserved. While we may not always understand His judgments, Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
6. Love and Judgement Coexist
Reconciling God’s love with His judgment is a key challenge. D.A. Carson explains that our difficulty stems from the human tendency to separate love and wrath.
Carson clarifies that “God’s wrath is not an implacable blind rage…it is an entirely reasonable and willed response to offenses against His holiness.” Simultaneously, His love “wells up amidst His perfections.” Thus, love and wrath can be directed towards the same individuals because God is both just and loving.
7. Murder vs. Killing
The Sixth Commandment forbids murder, but the Old Testament details instances of killing at God’s command. The Bible differentiates between murder and killing.
Numbers 35:27 states that “the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder.” Got Questions explains, “Murder is “the premeditated, unlawful taking of a life,” whereas killing is, more generally, “the taking of a life.”
Killing becomes murder when it is unlawful. Because all have sinned (Romans 3:23), the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23). Therefore, it is not unlawful for God to enact death.
8. Addressing the Difficult Question of Children
The inclusion of children in these judgments is perhaps the most troubling aspect. While difficult, understanding certain factors can offer perspective:
- Historically, parents determined the welfare of their children.
- Declarations of war typically allowed for a warning period for families to flee.
- These children lived in depraved environments.
- Killing by the sword could be seen as more merciful than abandonment or starvation.
- Death is not the end, and we trust God to do what is right, especially with those too young to know better.
Conclusion: Justice, Mercy, and the Gospel
The Old Testament’s violent passages showcase God’s just judgment on sin. These instances serve as warnings, illustrating the consequences of rejecting God and the offer of rescue.
The Bible reveals that:
- Everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23).
- Everyone deserves God’s judgment (Ephesians 2:3).
- God’s judgment is death.
However, the good news is:
- God provides escape through His love.
- He sent Jesus to take the penalty for our sins (1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 4:9, John 3:17).
- Belief in Jesus offers eternal life (John 3:16).
Now is the time to repent and be saved. Just as in the time of the Canaanites, God extends patience (2 Peter 3:9). A day is coming when final justice will be done (1 Peter 4:5, Acts 10:42, 2 Timothy 4:1). The only way to be rescued is through faith in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Don’t delay; today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Will you repent and be saved?
Recommended Resources
- A Doubter’s Guide to the Bible by John Dickson
- “Is the God of the Old Testament a merciless monster” by Robin Schumacher
