God has allowed killings, slavery

Q: Does God and/or the Bible ever condone genocide? Does God and/or the Bible ever condone slavery? Given the presence of good and evil in this world, does this reflect the nature of God?

A: The Old Testament does describe how God commanded the Israelites to destroy every man, woman and child in an enemy city (1 Samuel 15:3). But this killing wasn't done at the direction of sinful, selfish hearts driven by hatred for a certain race, culture or political system as we think of genocide today. The Bible tells us this killing was directed by God as a statement of his justice against the "wickedness of these nations" (Deuteronomy 9:4-6).

And while God also allowed slavery, he set up regulations regarding how slaves were to be treated. (Exodus 21:20-21) He has also spoken clearly against harsh treatment of slaves. (Ephesians 6:5-9)

The fact that God permitted genocide and slavery does indeed reflect on his nature: It shows both his justice and his love.

First, it shows his justice. God is a God of justice and as such he must punish every sin. To a holy God, any sin is intolerable. Greed is just as bad as theft. Hatred and prejudice is just as bad as murder. Pride is just as bad as mistreating another person. We're all guilty of sin and all equally damnable before God. Though he may not punish those who act against his will immediately, eventually there is hell to pay -- literally.

Is God happy to punish his creation? No. But if they reject him and his plan of salvation, he has no choice. They are bound for hell. And then, what does it matter if they are killed by the sword or die in their sleep when an eternity of torment awaits them?

In fact, as strange as it may sound, the evil that God allows also reflects his love. When God told his people to destroy their enemies, he did so to protect them from the corrupt spiritual influence of these nations -- some of which would burn their children alive on an altar to their pagan gods or practice temple prostitution to arouse the gods to send them rain. God didn't want them to join in these practices and lose sight of the promise of the Savior who would rescue them from their sins.

The answer to the age-old question of how an all-powerful and loving God can permit evil can best be answered in this Savior, Jesus. One day soon God will show his justice clearly and put an end to all evil once and for all. We call that day Judgment Day. But in his great love he's patient with us, who are all evil in God's sight. He's waiting for more of us to come to faith in Jesus.

God is perfectly just, punishing every sin ever committed in Jesus. At the same time God is perfectly loving, removing our sin through Jesus and saving us from the punishment we deserve. Perfect justice and perfect love; this is the true nature of God reflected most clearly in his Son.