(December 17, 2018 at 10:48 am)Jörmungandr Wrote: It's important to remember that this is the old testament, wherein God visited punishment for sin upon people in this life, not in a life to come. So death in the old testament is very much a punishment, and so, if unmerited, seems like a dick move by God. In the new testament, life before death is just a prelude to final and eternal judgement, so God killing people is less consequential. If I'm not mistaken, it also results in a lot fewer people being killed in the new testament.
Punishment only came after the covenant. Meaning after Moses was given the law he was also given a promise which basically stated if you follow the law I will bless you and your coming generations in this life. Which is what the books of judges is all about. God establishes the law the jews follow for a time they fall away God sends a 'judge' they are punished in one form or another plague captivity war ect, they repent and they start all over for two whole books of the bible.
Now God killing the people like here at sodom and gomorrah, is different because here and like in the case of the ark.. People of that time simply cried out to God because the evil of men here in these cities was so great God was compelled to act. like wise with the ark the evil of man was so great God want to start over. Or god killed people who threatened his great plan to bring atonement an salvation via Jesus through the Jews. Meaning anyone threatening the jews or the line of Christ were destroyed. whether it be a tribe or a whole people. Not really a crime and punishment more of a protect salvation by sugerically removing the dangerous people who would take away the line of Christ and thus doom the world
The reason there is less killing in the NT is because the covenant has changed. Now it is not about following the law. now it is about love. God gave us the law so that we may over many thousands of years truly understand Agape'
