When bashing Christianity, a lot of people will look at the perceived morality of God in the Old Testament. A lot of people will say that they do not want to serve a God that is so crazy, so wild, and so destructive. People want to focus on God’s anger and wrath. Of course they never focus on his creation and peace, how he saved slaves and restored Israel over and over, but they will focus on his passion for destruction. This article is a look at the facts, and what God has to say about his actions. The bible records God doing some pretty incredible things which include destroying numerous armies, two cities with fire, and driving one king to the point of insanity. Why God did these things is hard to understand. How he can call himself loving and do these things can be even harder to understand. So let’s hit the word, because the answer to these questions can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation for God.

For our foundation in the nature of God we have to check the bible, because that is what God has to say about himself. In Psalm 103 David is talking about the Lord’s faithfulness and love towards Israel and it is an easy example of how God can be passionately angry and passionately loving. David is pointing out that the “Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far doe she remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:8-12) (more…)