Expert: Clifford H. Readout, Jr. - 6/21/2008

Question
What is it with all the God endorsed killing in the OT?  Wiping out whole tribes / nations.  I could give you examples if it would help.  The stuff you almost never hear sermons about!  How do you answer those who say that the more loving God presented in the NT simply shows that men were evolving and becoming more sophisticated - and so naturally did their fables about God?

Answer
Dear Rick,

Thank you for your common, but penetrating questions. I am aware of the various historical incidents the Bible has recorded for us, so sending me examples would not be necessary, unless you had a specific question regarding a particular incident.

There are two specific questions you ask:

1. “What is it with all the God endorsed killing in the OT?”
2.”How do you answer those who say that the more loving God presented in the NT simply shows that men were evolving and becoming more sophisticated - and so naturally did their fables about God?”

I hope to offer you answers to both, but I will begin with the last, since it asks about my personal responses, and is the easiest to answer.
How do I answer those who say that the more loving God presented in the NT simply shows that men were evolving and becoming more sophisticated - and so naturally did their fables about God?  I would tell them that they have failed to grasp the single greatest fact of the  Word of God, and because of it have both underestimated God and overestimated men.  If this provoked them to deeper investigation I would be willing to explain. If they responded with similar objections, I probably wouldn’t waste further time attempting to get them to see the Truth.

For you, further explanation will come with the answer to your first question.
“What is it with all the God endorsed killing in the OT?”

I can’t blame people for not having much appreciation for such a god.  I’d find that difficult myself.  But it seems obvious to me that people have not been properly exposed to the truth about Him, so they cannot help but draw some incorrect conclusions.

There are two dimensions to the answer I want to suggest to you.  First is a technical answer that cannot be appreciated by anyone who does not possess the truth of the second dimension of the answer.  (Please read that line again.)

Some of the technical facts are summarized in Romans. Here are a few relevant excerpts:
Romans 9:14  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Romans 9:19-20 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?  20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Who are we to judge God?  Is God some mythical theory that must conform to our sensibilities, or is He the Creator and the One to whom we must answer?

When you think of the terrible judgment events described in the OT (and those yet to come that are described in the prophetic teaching of the NT) you need to consider the contextual facts.

God is the Creator and owner of everything. He is the boss, and the universe must cater  to His preferences, not Him to ours.  This was part of the answer given to Job when he complained about what he thought was God’s injustice toward him. (Job 33:12-13  Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. 13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.)

Humanity began with an accurate knowledge of the person, identity and plan of God, and degenerated into idolatry.
The whole earth belongs to God, and He can give parts of it to whomsoever He chooses.
God has the right to enforce His purposes upon men whenever and however He chooses.
Men who degenerate from knowing god into idolatry and rebellion are subject to the application of His judgment.
Any transgression of His commandments, by individuals or nations, carries a death sentence (1Corinthians 15:56).
None of the incidents of God’s judgment record injustice, but they certainly upset those who do not acknowledge God’s apparent arbitrary authority over everything.

Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

You and I will both have to answer to His judgment, and there is no escape from it. (Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:)

The second dimension of the answer to your question offers a greater measure of comfort that the bluntness of the technical dimension. I will summarize it with a personal experience:

A very well educated and wealthy man, who happened to be of Hebrew ancestry, once made this comment to me: “I will never accept the God of the Old Testament. Jesus I could love, but never the God of the Old Testament. I may have to acknowledge Him, but I could never love Him.”  His arguments were much the same as your questions imply. I gave him the same answer I will give you.

If you study the prophecies of the Old Testament and the claims of the New Testament, you will discover that the God of the Old Testament became the Lord Jesus Christ.  His purpose for manifesting Himself in flesh was, first, to reveal God to humanity, since men had so tarnished His name and reputation as to make Him virtually unknown, unknowable, and unlovable; second, to save men from the sin which invokes the justice of proper judgment; and third, to provide men an empowerment to live as God intended.

The Lord Jesus Christ is not some secondary being in a mythical Godhead, He is God manifest in flesh, demonstrating His character and nature to us and proving His absolute love for us.  Sin brings its own harvest of damage to the human being, and God’s holiness demands that sin’s price be paid, but He has offered men His own substitutionary sacrifice on their behalf.  Those who submit to it will be blessed, those who insist on following their own understanding will pay the price themselves.  It is as simple as that.

Why cannot men see God’s love and justice in the Old Testament?  Simply because they do not look at Him and His Ways, but rather filter the historical record through the errors of their own hearts and minds.

If you come to know Jesus Christ, you will first learn that He is the God of the Old Testament, the Creator, as well as the Savior. That revelation will empower us to see beyond the surface facts of an event, and discover the reasons why His grace is not always allowed to prevail over His judgment.  None of this changes Him, but it will change us and how we think of Him. Look at Jesus Christ, and you see the Truth about God’s nature and character.
Colossians 2:8-9 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

There is so much more that is worthy of your consideration, but I cannot write it all to you in this forum.  I do have some copyrighted studies I have written and would send you, but I cannot post them to this website.  If you want to study the identity of Jesus Christ as the Almighty God, write to me at readout@earthlink.net. I will be happy to communicate with you further about your questions, as time allows.

I hope this will help you in some measure.  If I can be of further help, please write again.  However for the next two months I will not be available through AllExperts.com, and the three day time limit will not be met because my access to the internet will be limited when I am away from home and out of the country.

Yours for Truth,

CR