But I have also become more frustrated by the lack of answers, especially when it comes to the God of the Old Testament. When I started reading the OT, I had to put it down after three minutes because I felt so betrayed by the cruelty of God. I felt as if I had been duped this whole time into thinking that he was kind and loving, when here he was killing innocent people. I was shocked that he caused the earth to swallow up women and children along with various sinners, (Numbers Chapter 16, around verse 20) As a result, I have felt more distant from Jesus, he feels more like a stranger to me now.
Can anyone explain to me how this cruelty in the OT can possibly be justified?
WK,
Your questions are great. Not that I can add much to the conversation, but I’ll give it a shot. Children being sucked into the face of the earth for what their parents did (Numbers 16:25-35 ) is the kind of stuff that seems to give atheists fodder and make Christians want to discreetly change the subject.
I too, love the Jesus that befriends prostittutes, heals the blind and feeds thousands of hungry bodies and souls. But how do we balance it all? Or should we try? IMHO we serve a God who sees a lot more than we can, and sometimes confronts our sin in a very “in yo face” style. Our sins will have an affect on our children (you can see this in dysfunctional families and communities). The Lord was clear in the giving of the 10 commandments (Ex 20:5-6), he would inflict punishment for the sins of the fathers down to the 3rd and 4th generations,
but blessings to the thousands for those who keep his commandments.
WK, as weak as it may sounds,
our sins have serious ramifications. The Numbers example you brought up is chilling, but it also brings us to face off with the holiness of God. You mentioned it is hard to read through the Old Testament, but l encourage you to read all of it. In Numbers, we see Moses and the Israelites getting tested during tough times. They were sick, hot, tired and mad. Were they going to have faith in a God who not less than a month back showed His ferocious love for them through the 10 plagues? Will we, the Israelites follow God when times get tough? Will they, we, worship Him for who He really is? Do they, we, have the right to brazenly challenge His authority, and will we have faith even when times are tough and He seems distant, even cruel?
As other posters mentioned, we don’t know what happened to those who were swallowed up, particularly the children. But check it out:
In Numbers 26:11, it is clear, although God could have totally wiped the memory of them from the earth, it states: “The descendants of Korah did not die out…” He sticks it out with us and our grandchildren even when we act like idiots…
My guess, is that you will see the children who died in the event in heaven. And maybe even the adults. Just as I think you will also see the Egyptian kids who died due to Pharoah’s stubborn heart, the baby boys who died at Herod’s hand in Matthew chapter 2:16-19, and a whole host of others you can list off yourself if you think about it.
What is also pretty cruel yet merciful, is a God who allows His Son to be sacrificed for sinners like me. Sinners like me who may not openly challenge God and His priests, but who do sin silently in our hearts and, in one way or another challenge Him.
But the same God who rescued the Israelites, let them and their children get defeated in war after war, allowed saints to be eaten by lions, boiled and even quartered. And we do believe, He will make all things right in the end. Hebrews chapter 11 gives us all a little hope when we just can’t understand.
Keep asking those questions. God loves it when we wrestle with Him. That’s faith in action. Stay close to Mama Mary and the rosary… My answer isn’t the best, but hopefully points you in the right direction.
)
