Some folks have a real problem with the Bible and its teachings. Those problems almost always focus on the Hebrew scriptures and I see three main moral issues. The scriptures give Isreal guidelines that permit and regulate slavery. There are issues with the treatment of women and children. Lastly, the way Israel acted towards its enemies in wartime.
"They said, 'Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.' And Jesus said to them, 'Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment...' " - Mark 10:4-5 ESV
"He said to them, 'Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so...' " - Matthew 19:8 ESV
It is clear that Jesus had disagreed with Moses on this issue. He obeyed the law in every point but He stayed at the higher end of the law. He never hurt anyone. He never took a wife. He never owned a slave.
People look for moral perfection in Abraham and his children but they don't find it. God never claimed that the rules given to Israel were going to be 'perfect'. Those rules and instructions were for 'holiness' which means to set them apart from the nations around them.
The ten commandments are moral perfection. But, It seems that God delegated much to Moses who was by the Bible's own account a very imperfect man.
"Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries." - Exodus 23:21-22 ESV
I see this command in the same light I see this next one.
"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you." - Deuteronomy 5:16 ESV
Are all fathers and mothers perfect? No. Some are just plain terrible people but honor is something we do to honor God. Jesus honored Moses and the law of Moses but he didn't do all that Moses said to do. He never broke the law. Never. Not even in one point but He also didn't do all the things that were permitted by the law.
In order to understand and fully embrace the Hebrew scriptures, we must 'follow the scarlet thread' and see Abraham's descendants and the nation that arose out of those people as a vehicle to bring Messiah into the world. At times they were commanded to do things (by a God who had full authority to issue the command) to protect that bloodline from harm or interruption. This explains to me why God would tell Israel to destroy whole people groups. He knew those groups would infect Israel's biology and culture with outside influences that were destructive.
Jesus birth and death are a turning point for all of humanity. Those who believe in Christ are not ruled by the law of Moses. It was never meant for the world anyway. It was meant for one nation.
You may say, 'Why didn't God correct it?' or 'Why did He let it happen that way?' but we could also ask, 'Why does God let me make mistakes?' and perhaps the answer to those questions is the same answer.
What would we do if a people group had a virus that was going to kill all of mankind if it got out? Perhaps we would do our best to isolate them. What if that was not possible? Would we just let all of humanity die because of sentimentality?
Those who mock the Bible just don't understand it. The Bible is a book about Jesus, not morality. Morality is low ground. Love is what Jesus brings to us. Love transcends culture.
The Hebrew scriptures chronical history and explain how the Saviour came into the world. The Greek (New Testament) scriptures illuminate the new life we have in Christ.
Mocking the Bible is a dangerous business. The only hope we have is found only in those pages.
I love my Bible. Some of the older portions are difficult to read. The cross is difficult to look at. I cringe at His pain but He went there so I could have life. I am so thankful.
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