God, understanding of

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Section Contains arguments that: talk about how God’s nature is.

Does God change his mind?

< Yes. (Biblical)

Exo 32:14 And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.

Can God stand sin? (Biblical)

< No. Since He’s so perfect, he’ll burn every sinful thing up.

Exo 33:3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people."

Why would God kill people in OT?

< STRONG Because Sin was very addictive and even fatal at that time. (Biblical)

If a person touched it, then as God said to Cain, "Sin wants to destroy, but don't let it"; it will get the person trapped. This can explain why God ruthlessly killed people in the past. In fact, God's people didn't kill people without his permission. But when Jesus died, he finally broke free the lethal grasp of sin. It is like having an epidemic. You have to kill people with the disease to stop its spreading and harm. But Jesus brought the cure, so there is no more a need to kill the people.

Foreign Wives

This was especially true with marrying foreign wives who bring their gods and idol with them. Once a king like Solomon married many of them, he got trapped into committing sin, and finally God was no longer pleased with him.

< STRONG In those times, Israel and others saw the miracles that God performed, and were still stubborn.

These people had the special privilege to see all that God was doing, such as the escape from Egypt, the splitting of the Red Sea, and the miraculous victories of Israel against her enemies.

Likewise, special people in office like spies and ambassadors, have special privileges and have access to lots of information. If the government found out that they were cheating the country and committed espionage, what would most countries do? Hang them.

Likewise, Israel and others had those special privileges and were stubborn to accept God. Hence God had them killed by his own people.

God’s Deadly Laws

As for the God’s laws being very deadly if disobeyed, it’s similar.

One man's betrayal is the whole group's failure. They would have to kill the person or set him in life in prison. But setting him in life time of prison isn’t practical because if he gets out, he will cause the whole group grief by giving all the information to foreigners.

< STRONG The sinners who rejected God usually had great pride over God and his people. (Biblical)

What better way to show that God is all powerful than to for God to have his people win in combat. Combat was the ultimate test for all things.

Jdg 7:2 The LORD said to Gideon, "The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'

Here this shows how the Israelites would think. Imagine how much worse if the sinners were never attacked, how much more prideful they’ll be that God can do nothing in response to their sins.