Do you avoid the Old Testament because of the  violence which you cannot explain? I mean, the penalties for breaking the laws are really harsh! 

So, dear readers, what do you think? Could we be kinder than God and come up with better results? I am purposely asking questions, rather than providing answers. Let’s think about this together. 

Early in the history of this world, right after the Great Flood that wiped out all of humanity except for a family of eight, God decreed, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Gen. 9:6) That’s a mandatory death penalty for murder. Most modern Western countries have decided that that is an unusually cruel punishment, opting instead to imprison the killer for a median time of 15 years in the US. However, many murder cases are plea-bargained to lesser offenses, often resulting in sentences less than a third of the median time. Then the offenders are let back out on the street to re-offend a frightening percentage of the time. That’s a good example of being “kinder than  God.” Or is it?

Statistics show that 1% of the population with 3+ convictions) account for 63% of violent crime convictions in Sweden (1973–2004), a pattern echoed in U.S. studies. How is this even possible? That means that each person let back out on the street after committing a violent crime, including murder, commits more crimes and leaves more victims. 

Let’s stop a moment to correlate those statistics with being “kind.”

• The violent offenders appear to be receiving the “kindness.”
• The terrified woman who was raped experiences little kindness.
• The children left fatherless experience little kindness.
• The hard-working factory employee who could afford only liability insurance on his stolen car experiences little kindness.
• The single mother whose husband was murdered experiences little kindness.
• The family whose house was broken into, with the interior vandalized and valuables stolen, experiences little kindness.
• The family whose corner store was fire-bombed experiences little kindness.
• The reporter who was seriously injured and almost killed by a mob experiences little kindness.
• The mother who weeps over the body of her daughter, who died of an accidental drug overdose, experiences little kindness. 

Due to modern “kindness” towards violent offenders, it seems that they generally spend less than three years in prison. Most violent offenders (95 percent) are plea-bargained (i.e., aggravated assault charges become disorderly conduct convictions, leading to them being quickly released back onto the street. 

Compare that to the laws during the time Israel was directly ruled by God as a “theocracy.”

• There were no prisons. Instead, the following penalties applied:
• Murder: Death, with a provision to flee to a City of Refuge if it was involuntary manslaughter. Gen. 9:6; Ex. 21:12. 
• Assault causing injury: Restitution for damages (e.g., medical costs, lost wages) if the victim survives; death penalty if the injury leads to death.
  Ex. 21:18-19.
• Kidnapping (to sell as a slave): Death Ex. 21:16; Deut. 24:7.
• Striking or cursing parents: Death. Ex. 21:15, 17; Lev. 20:9. 
• Rape: Death if the victim is engaged or married. Deut. 22:25-27; 
  A fine, if the victim was unmarried, and the man must marry the woman and could never divorce her. Deut. 22:28, 29. 
• Adultery: Death for both partners. Deut. 22:22.
• False witness: The false witness received the punishment the victim would have received. Deut. 19:16-19

Yes, the penalties above look “harsh” to modern eyes, and that’s why modern Christians may prefer to read the New Testament with the “meek and mild Jesus,” forgetting that the Jehovah/Yahweh of the Old Testament was the pre-incarnate Son of God Himself. (Compare John 8:58-59 with Exodus 3:13-15)

But what about the innocent victims of crime committed by repeat offenders? Are they not treated harshly when they have not committed any crime?

So, what do you think? Are our modern man-made laws kinder than the laws God gave to Israel? 

Why do you think that the laws God gave to Israel were so “harsh”?

What factors should we consider in making  a comparison?

Abbreviated Bibliography:

Note: These are relatively old statistics. As most readers can observe, violence has increased dramatically during the last 10 years or so, and more contemporary statistics might look worse. 

“Recidivism Among Federal Violent Offenders,” United States Sentencing Commission. Accessed October 26, 2025.

“The 1% of the population accountable for 63% of all violent crime convictions,”  PubMed, October 31, 2012. Accessed October 26, 2025.

“Violent Offenders Drive Crime and Incarceration,” Crime in America, February 4, 2019. Accessed October 26, 2025.

“When few do great harm,” Patterns in Humanity, April 23, 2023, Accessed October 26, 2025.

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Daily Lesson for Tuesday 28th of October 2025

God’s original purpose for the Canaanites was not annihilation but, instead, dispossession. An examination of the passages that describe the way Israel had to be involved in the battles of the conquest used terms that speak about the dispossession, ejection, and dissipation carried out against the inhabitants of the Promised Land. The second group of terms that express destruction and have Israel as the subject of the action refer mostly to inanimate objects, such as articles of pagan worship and objects devoted to destruction. Evidently, the places of pagan worship and the altars constituted the main centers of the Canaanite religion.

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

Holy war is mainly oriented toward Canaan’s corrupt culture and society. In order to avoid contamination, Israel had to destroy all the elements that were propagating corruption. However, all the inhabitants of Canaan, and those who, on an individual basis, recognized God’s sovereignty prior to the conquest, or even during the conquest, were able to escape through immigration (Joshua 2:9-14; compare with Judges 1:24-26). The only part of the Canaanite population doomed to destruction were those who withdrew into the fortified cities, obstinately continued to rebel against God’s plan for the Israelites, and hardened their hearts (Joshua 11:19-20).

However, this does raise a question: If the initial purpose of conquering Canaan was to drive out the inhabitants of the land and not to annihilate them, why did the Israelites have to kill so many people?

Analysis of the biblical texts related to the conquest of Canaan revealed that the original intent of the conquest implied the dissipation of the Canaanite population. However, the majority of the Canaanites, like the pharaoh of Egypt, hardened their hearts and, as such, became one with the culture to such an extent that the destruction of their culture meant they had to be destroyed, as well.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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As we work our way through the book of Joshua this quarter, we will see that he is ready to 
Fight The Good Fight – Hymn 613 and to move forward into the Promised Land. We may still use last quarter’s theme hymn as this will pop up throughout this quarter as well: 
Hymn 620 – On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand. These two hymns will resound throughout the quarter.

Oh yes, “God Fights for You” is so very true. Praise the Lord! The children of Israel had much to learn about how to 
Sound The Battle Cry – Hymn 614 and to go and 
Fight The Good Fight – Hymn 613, just as we need to learn daily now.

All week we see the land to be conquered had people who did not worship the God of the universe. We are reminded to do this in 
Hymn 6 – O Worship The Lord and 
Hymn 83 – O Worship The King.

As we have “Free Choice” (Wednesday), we can choose to be on God’s side which leads in our daily life, and to eternal life. We are able to choose to “submit to the authority of Yahweh and live”. Please, let us not rebel, but choose to say 
Live Out Thy Life Within Me – Hymn 316.

 With all the war and battles mentioned this week, it is wonderful to see that we have a Prince of Peace on Thursday: 
Hymn 153 – Prince Of Peace Control My Will so we may be able to have everlasting peace.

Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Key Thought: This week, we explore the complexity, limitations, conditions, and the spiritual implications of Divine war.
November 1, 2025

1. Have a volunteer read Genesis 18:25, Psalm 7:11, 50:6, 82:1.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. How does the role of God as the Judge of the universe help us understand the function of Divine war ?
3. Personal Application: What these verses say about God’s character? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What is the difference between revenge, anger and righteous judgment and indignation? What is the line between mercy and forgiveness and punishment?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Exodus 23:28:32, 33:2, 34:11, Numbers 33:32, Deut 7:20.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What is the purpose of Israel’s conquest and the extent of the destruction?
3. Personal Application: What elements in your own character and habits must be uprooted and annihilated? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “I don’t see many people discussing God’s wrath anymore. They focus on love and forgiveness. But does God approve of war now like He did when Israel was conquering the Promised Land? Or is any kind of war justifiable in today’s world? ” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Deuteronomy 20:10, 15-18, 13:12-18.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How does the law of warfare against a town in Israel help us understand the limits of destruction in the war Israel was engaged in?
3. Personal Application: What are the spiritual implications and consequences of our free choices when in defiance of God? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “I am involved with a conflict with my coworker. He is unreasonable, talking behind my back, verbally abusive, and argumentative. How can I be an agent of peace when this person is anything but peaceful?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 9:6, 11:1-5, Micah 4:3.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How do these Scriptures describe the future that God has planned for His people?
3. Personal Application: How can we, by seeking to reflect Jesus, be agents of peace? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Daily Lesson for Monday 27th of October 2025

The holiness of God’s character means that He cannot tolerate sin. He is patient. However, sin must reap its final consequence, which is death (Romans 6:23). Yahweh declared war against sin, regardless of where it was found, whether in Israel or among the Canaanites. Israel was not sanctified through participating in holy wars any more than other nations were (Deuteronomy 9:4-5; Deuteronomy 12:29-30), even when they became the means of Yahweh’

Image © Justinen Creative from GoodSalt.com

s judgment against His chosen nation. Different from other ancient Near Eastern people, the Israelites experienced the reversal of holy war when God did not fight for them but against them, allowing their enemies to oppress them (compare with Joshua 7:1-26).

The whole concept of holy war can be understood only if it is seen in the light of God’s activity as judge. When seen this way, Israel’s wars of conquest take on a completely different character. In contrast to the imperialistic wars of self-aggrandizement, so common in the ancient world (and ours today), Israel’s wars were not meant to accomplish glory for themselves but to establish God’s justice and peace in the land. Therefore, at the heart of understanding the concept of holy war stands the concept of God’s rule and sovereignty, which are at stake in the imagery of God as warrior, just as they are in the imagery of God as king or as judge.

Yahweh as warrior is the One who, as a judge, is committed to implementing, stabilizing, and maintaining the rule of the law, which is the reflection of His character. The image of God as warrior, similar to that of judge and king, asserts that Yahweh will not tolerate rebellion against His established order forever. Therefore, one can affirm that the goal of Yahweh’s activity is never war itself, or victory itself, but the reestablishment of justice and peace. Ultimately, to judge and to wage war, or to deliver justice, are the same thing if God is the subject of the action.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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