Introduction

  • I Samuel 15:3 – Saul was told to annihilate the Amalekites.
  • Genesis 7:23 – God destroys the earth in the flood.
  • Marcion, 140 AD – He thought the God of the Old Testament was different from the New Testament. He edited a new Bible to remove the violence.

This is a huge source of criticism and confusion

  • Deuteronomy 32:42
  • Steve Wells: Drunk with Blood: God’s Killings in the Bible

God is just and will punish those who reject Him

  • Genesis 6:5
  • Genesis 18:20
  • Deuteronomy 9:5
  • Deuteronomy 18:9-12
  • Deuteronomy 20:16-18

God is compassionate and wants to bless people

  • Exodus 34:6-7
  • Ezekiel 33:11
  • II Peter 2:5-7; 3:9 – Even in God’s fury, he provides salvation for the faithful.
  • Joshua 6:21; 2:11; 6:25 – God saved Rahab because of her faith.
    • Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25; Matthew 1:5
  • Jonah 3:4, 10; 4:2, 11 – Ninevah repents and God relents, deciding not to destroy the city.

But what about the children?

  • Consider the eternal perspective.
    • Matthew 19:13 – Children are innocent. At death, they go to be with God.
  • God is sovereign as creator.
    • Job 1:21
    • Romans 8:18
    • As the creator, God has the right to create and destroy.

Application

  • Be wary of how critics frame the issue.
  • Don’t start with the bias of “modern society is right.”
  • Keep the eternal perspective.
    • Luke 12:4-5