The question of whether God is a moral monster is an important one that many struggle with. At first glance, some of the stories and commands in the Bible can seem troubling. However, when examined more closely within their historical and biblical contexts, we gain insight into God’s righteous and loving character.
There are several key considerations when evaluating God’s morality in the Bible:
- God is the creator and sustainer of life and has the right to take it as he sees fit.
- God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). We have limited knowledge and perspective.
- God judges sin because He is perfectly holy and righteous.
- God’s judgment serves to right wrongs and bring justice.
- God is patient, merciful and gracious. He delays and mitigates punishment to allow opportunities for repentance.
- God has morally sufficient reasons for all He commands and does, even if we in our limited understanding cannot fully comprehend them.
With these principles in mind, various “problematic” biblical accounts can be examined:
1. The destruction of Canaanite cities
God commanded the destruction of entire Canaanite cities (Deuteronomy 20:16-18). Several factors provide moral justification:
- The Canaanites were deeply depraved, practicing child sacrifice, cult prostitution, and more (Leviticus 18:24-25). Their culture was irredeemably corrupt.
- The judgment was delayed 400 years until the iniquity of the Amorites was “complete” (Genesis 15:16). God was patient.
- Some Canaanites repented and joined the Israelites (Joshua 2). Mercy was available.
- This judgment served to protect Israel from corrupting influences as the nation that would bear the Messiah.
While troubling to modern sensibilities, God was just and acted according to the wickedness of the Canaanites.
2. Harsh laws in the Old Testament
Some Old Testament laws seem excessively harsh to modern people. However, these laws served various purposes for ancient Israel:
- Israel was a theocracy where moral violations were crimes against God requiring justice.
- Harsh punishments deterred sin and taught the costliness of transgressing God’s holy law.
- Some laws were maximum punishments acting as warnings, not always enacted strictly.
- Case law was flexible, allowing judges to consider motives and circumstances.
While foreign to today’s approach, these laws achieved justice, deterred sin, and taught reverence for God to Israel.
3. The problem of evil and suffering
The Bible affirms that God is all-powerful and perfectly good. Yet evil and suffering exist. Some argue this makes God morally culpable. There are several defenses to this:
- Moral evil stems from free creatures rebelling against God, not God himself.
- Natural evil is the result of the curse on creation due to sin.
- God allows evil and suffering, but uses it to accomplish good purposes (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).
- God is patient and merciful, delaying judgment to give time for repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
- God entered into human suffering through Christ and defeated evil through the cross and resurrection.
Far from being morally culpable for evil, God demonstrates great mercy while defeating evil and promising an ultimate state without suffering for those who love Him.
4. Killing the Canaanite children
God’s command to kill even Canaanite children seems morally repulsive. There are several considerations:
- Children who die before the age of moral accountability are received into heaven. They did not suffer everlasting judgment.
- The children would have likely grown up as devoted idolaters, perpetuating great evil.
- The judgment served as a lesson to Israel of the cost of unchecked sin.
- God is Lord over the life and death of all people.
While tragic, the death of Canaanite children served as both mercy and lesson for good purposes.
5. Harsh laws regarding women and slaves
Some Old Testament laws regarding women and slaves seem unfair by today’s standards. However, they marked improvements from the surrounding cultures. Also:
- Male leadership was established by God from creation and for godly lines, not due to inferiority (1 Timothy 2:11-14).
- Slavery was debt servitude, not race-based as in early America. Rules prevented mistreatment.
- Fulfillment in Christ offers equality for all (Galatians 3:28).
While containing some difficult teachings, Old Testament laws uplifted women and slaves from the surrounding abusive cultures.
6. Commands to wage war
God frequently commands Israel to wage war against nations (Deuteronomy 7:1-2). This raises moral concerns. Yet:
- These nations engaged in gross immorality, idolatry, and child sacrifice.
- God sovereignly used war to judge wickedness and defend His people.
- Israel fought with more restraint than other nations of the day.
- As Judge of all, God has the right to use war to achieve righteous purposes.
While troubling to modern sensibilities, God’s holy and sovereign purposes were accomplished through Israel’s military campaigns.
7. Killing disobedient children
Old Testament law called for disobedient children to be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). This seems excessively harsh. However:
- This law instilled the importance of parental authority and deterred real rebellion.
- The legal process was extensive, designed to protect children.
- This law was intended more as a severe warning than regularly enacted practice.
While seeming extreme today, this law guarded parental authority and restrained rebellion in ancient Israel.
8. God hardening Pharaoh’s heart
Multiple times during the Exodus, it is said that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 4:21). If so, how could Pharaoh be justly held responsible? Considerations:
- Pharaoh already opposed letting Israel go before any hardening.
- “Hardening” confirms Pharaoh in his existing rebellion – not creating new rebellion.
- God is sovereign over all hearts and can use evil intentions for good purposes.
Rather than forcing Pharaoh against his will, God confirmed his existing rebellion to powerfully display God’s glory.
9. Imprecatory psalms
Some psalms contain curses or imprecations against enemies (Psalm 69:22-28). This seems contrary to loving one’s enemies. But note:
- These psalms express righteous zeal for God’s honor. Anger has its place against persistent evil.
- Cursing is calling on God to enact His righteous judgment against the wicked.
- Jesus pronounced woes and condemned Pharisees while forgiving them, showing a balance.
- Imprecations are limited to God’s enemies, not personal enemies.
Imprecatory psalms reflect zeal for God’s righteousness and trust in His justice against unrepentant evil.
10. The doctrine of hell
Some argue that the existence of hell makes God immoral. But consider:
- Hell is freely chosen by creatures rejecting God’s manifold mercies.
- Hell displays God’s justice and His judgment of sin.
- Christ suffered intensely on the cross to provide a way of salvation from hell.
- Hell upholds the seriousness of moral choices and the value of redemption.
Hell is the justice for those who reject truth and spurn God’s mercy. God does not desire anyone to end up there.
In examining difficult biblical passages, we must consider their context, God’s wider revelation, and His perfect holiness, justice and mercy. While we may struggle to fully understand His ways, we can trust God’s morally sufficient reasons for all He commands and does as disclosed in Scripture.