Understanding God's Character in the Light of Warfare

Abstract

This study examines the contrast between images of a loving and merciful God and the history of violent warfare in the Old Testament. Discusses the challenge of understanding God's character consistently in both the Old and New Testaments. The study addresses arguments for questioning God and His morality in Old Testament warfare, such as the topic of ethnic cleansing and genocide. Explores the issues that led some to reject the Old Testament and deny the existence of God. Through careful examination of biblical texts and their historical and cultural context, this study argues that the Canaanite conquests represented God's judgment on evil after long opportunities for repentance, and not tyrannical violence.  He concludes that an accurate understanding of Old Testament warfare is possible without compromising the view of God as consistently loving and merciful throughout the Bible. This discussion aims to reconcile the ethical concerns of contemporary readers with the biblical account of divine character.