I have often tried to justify God’s violent actions portrayed in the Old Testament. No need, no more. I don’t believe in the violent portrayals of God in the Old Testament. There. I’ve said it.

I don’t believe they are the TRUE picture of God. 

They are tribal interpretations of God being on their side; faulty interpretations of God’s brutal punishment caused by God’s people’s sins.

Here is one of the most horrific depictions of the warrior God. It’s from 1Samuel 15:

Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” (ESV)

And there are several such portrayals of the violent, vengeful, warrior God.

But.

‘The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being..’- from Hebrews 1 (NIV)

Jesus is the only true portrayal of God. He is ‘everything’ about God in the flesh.

So why such a violent God in the Old Testament?

It seems that God allowed such warrior-like depictions of Himself to be included in His word because His people believed they were inspired by God. Much as modern military leaders believe God sanctions their violent actions.

But Jesus tells us that He alone is the exact image of God.

And what does Jesus show us? A loving, healing, forgiving, and reconciling God. 

In Jesus, God tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who mistreat us. In Jesus, God tells us to forgive, not annihilate, our enemies.

The Old Testament writers had an incomplete understanding of God. Jesus brings us the one true revelation of God’s character. 

Jesus is God is love. Period. Alleluia.