Why Is The Old Testament So Brutal?

[Unix]

See this new mp4 voice recording where an argument is developed, at about 6:28 or 7:00 and towards 7:20 and 7:40 there: that which is under Your control You don't need God for: https://video-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/h...=da6575a28f49d387d8f1345b5e430aac&oe=55CB807D Where did the so called age of accountability come from if some hold infants as accountable?:

Since the 19th century, both leaders and citizens should have known better than to go to war or start genocides since there has been printed newspapers for all this time (and at the turn of the century telegraphs as well in some countries), and radio was very populsar in the early 20th century. Perhaps the vast masses weren't (quickly) informed during most of the 19th century, but still these figures do confirm that the 19th century was the most peaceful century, and usually historians talk about the "long 19th century".
1914-1998 is the really violent period, I include the end of '90s because www had been invented. During this period all peot ple got news brought to them one way or the other with few exceptions: isolated countries.
The wars since 1991 can be explained by that war has become entertainment through live TV broadcasts and in recent years through different feeds on the web and in smartphones being consumed by a vast percentage of the world population. So the moral (the actions, not the theory, many times referred to as ethics in the U.S.) among those weren't directly affected has really gone down since 1991 until present.

 

[brinny]

Why Is The Old Testament So Brutal?

I'm not sure if this is scripture but I hear that God is the same today yesterday and forever. However in the old testament people were judged by their actions alone and it was brutal. Turning his back on the Israelite's and not listening to their prayers for their previous wrongdoings. Telling people it's to late to repent; he won't hear their cries or prayers and they will be crushed by the sword for worshiping false idols. When I read the new testament I know that God will never leave me nor forsaken me. I know that he loves me more than I can imagine. Then when I read the old testament it's really hard for me to see that same loving and forgiving God. It seemed like it was so much harder to get into heaven back then. I want to understand why God did these things and how it's fair to the others who didn't get the same chance as I do. Right now I'm reading through Ezekiel and it's difficult for me to understand. Is there any clarification or advice you can give me to better understand why God had to do it this way?

SIN is brutal.

Thank you kindly.

 

[Chicken Little]

I'm not sure if this is scripture but I hear that God is the same today yesterday and forever. However in the old testament people were judged by their actions alone and it was brutal. Turning his back on the Israelite's and not listening to their prayers for their previous wrongdoings. Telling people it's to late to repent; he won't hear their cries or prayers and they will be crushed by the sword for worshiping false idols. When I read the new testament I know that God will never leave me nor forsaken me. I know that he loves me more than I can imagine. Then when I read the old testament it's really hard for me to see that same loving and forgiving God. It seemed like it was so much harder to get into heaven back then. I want to understand why God did these things and how it's fair to the others who didn't get the same chance as I do. Right now I'm reading through Ezekiel and it's difficult for me to understand. Is there any clarification or advice you can give me to better understand why God had to do it this way?

well for one thing it would be as brutal or more so , If jesus was paying back " eye for eye" by these ancient blood laws which are still in effect now. Israel just did animal sacrifice to store up those sins.. just Since Jesus sacrifice for all he is storing up those sins , it doesn't mean that the pay day isn't coming. just right now everyone is under a concept of grace for a time. the time needed to save as many people as possible from their own sins and the consequences coming for what they have done.
so it is not that is was more brutal then . it is just a little Less brutal now because of his sacrifice and some christians nations that once believed in mercy and his grace a little more than most nations..

 

[Job8]

If you think the Old Testament is brutal, meditate on the book of Revelation. Those judgements are even more severe. Unless we grasp to some degree the absolute holiness of God, we cannot possible understand His wrath against sin and evil. At the same time, God's infinite grace has provided salvation for all who will repent and believe. Those who choose to reject Christ and be enemies of God will only have themselves to blame.

 

[Winken]

In the OT, we are looking at a small region of the world where God was trying to preserve a nation from which His Son would come through. Christians believe in a spiritual Adversary and this Adversary (Satan) was trying to wipe out the Nation of Israel every chance he got. It was easy for him to turn the pagan nations against Israel, at will.

But if you think the OT was violent, have you looked around in the last 200-300 years, lately?

Wow..........

 

[PapaZoom]

Just some thinking out loud here: Some of the brutality in the OT is just honest reporting of the historical happenings. Also, as to God's actions towards disobedience and evil: OT actions by God towards disobedience should at least tell us the extent to which God hates sin.

I've often wondered why some skeptics complain that God does nothing about the evil in the world but when He did (as with the Canaanites) the complaint goes the other way. The Canaanites were sadistic and depraved and practiced many things that were so horrible they were deserving of being completely wiped out. Much like ISIS should be completely annihilated today.

Lastly, when trying to understand OT culture and practices, the last thing we should do is to evaluate what we read and hear of OT times through our contemporary culture and understandings.

 

[DoubleZero]

How is the OT any more brutal than the 20th Century?

 

[Vince53]

Quote of the day: "I've often wondered why some skeptics complain that God does nothing about the evil in the world but when He did (as with the Canaanites) the complaint goes the other way."

 

[Vince53]

The OT stories are literally true, but they teach us some spiritual truths.

Israel pictures an individual Christian. "Land" pictures a lifestyle. God wants us to end sin in our lives, even if it means the destruction of that sin.