Understanding God's Justice and Mercy in Warfare
Summary
Today we gathered as a diverse community to wrestle with one of the most challenging and often misunderstood aspects of Scripture: the theme of war and the character of God. Our journey began by acknowledging the discomfort and questions that arise when we read passages where God commands ancient Israel to engage in war, even to the point of destroying entire nations. These texts can be deeply unsettling, and it’s natural to feel tension, confusion, or even anger. Yet, we are invited to bring these emotions honestly before God, trusting that He meets us in our complexity.
To understand these difficult passages, it’s essential to see the broader narrative arc of Scripture. God’s commands regarding war were not arbitrary acts of violence, but measured, purposeful responses to centuries of entrenched evil, injustice, and spiritual corruption. The Canaanite nations, for example, were steeped in practices like child sacrifice and systemic oppression. God’s patience extended over generations, giving opportunities for repentance before judgment came. His actions were always aimed at preserving a people through whom the Messiah would come, ensuring the pathway for redemption remained open.
It’s easy to create a caricature of God as merely wrathful or vengeful, but the true character of God is both just and merciful. He is slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and always working toward redemption. The same God who judged evil in the Old Testament is the God who, in Jesus, bore the violence of humanity to end violence and offer peace. God’s justice is not human vengeance; it is patient, redemptive, and always intertwined with His mercy.
We must also be careful not to import modern assumptions or political agendas into ancient biblical narratives. The commands given to ancient Israel were specific, time-bound, and tied to God’s redemptive plan—not a model for modern warfare or foreign policy. Misreading these texts can lead to harmful distortions in theology and practice.
Ultimately, behind the physical wars of the Old Testament lies a deeper spiritual conflict. God’s war is against the spiritual forces of evil that enslave humanity. Through Jesus, God has declared victory over sin, death, and every power that oppresses. The invitation today is to let go of false images of God and trust in the One who fights for our freedom, offering peace and healing through the cross.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Commands in the Old Testament Reflect Both Justice and Mercy
God’s instructions to ancient Israel regarding war were not arbitrary or cruel, but responses to generations of entrenched evil and injustice. His justice is always measured and patient, giving ample opportunity for repentance before judgment. Even in His most severe actions, God’s heart is bent toward mercy and redemption, not destruction. [30:44]
- Beware of Caricatures: Embrace the Fullness of God’s Character
It is tempting to focus on snapshots of God’s judgment and ignore the broader context of His love, patience, and grace. Reducing God to a caricature—an angry, loveless figure—distorts the truth and keeps us from experiencing His compassionate heart. The God revealed in Scripture is both just and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. [27:56]
- The Spiritual War Behind the Physical War
The battles in the Old Testament are not just about human conflict, but about God’s war against spiritual forces of evil that corrupt and enslave humanity. These spiritual realities are woven throughout the biblical narrative, culminating in Jesus’ victory over sin and death. Recognizing this deeper conflict helps us understand the purpose behind God’s actions and the hope we have in Christ. [44:55]
- Avoid Importing Modern Assumptions into Ancient Texts
It is crucial not to conflate the ancient nation of Israel with the modern state or to use biblical narratives as blueprints for contemporary politics or warfare. Misapplying these texts leads to theological confusion and can perpetuate injustice. Instead, let Scripture interpret Scripture, and let the redemptive story of Jesus be the lens through which we read all of God’s Word. [41:08]
- Jesus’ Victory Brings True Peace and Freedom
Through the cross, Jesus absorbed the violence and brokenness of the world, defeating the powers of sin and death. God’s ultimate aim is not destruction, but redemption and peace for all who trust in Him. No one is beyond the reach of God’s love; Jesus’ heel was bruised so that our brokenness could be healed, and His victory is our invitation to freedom and wholeness. [52:48]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[23:11] - Introducing Difficult Questions: War and God’s Character
[25:42] - Reading Deuteronomy 20: Context of War Commands
[27:56] - Caricatures of God: Judgment vs. Mercy
[30:44] - God’s Justice and Mercy in the Old and New Testaments
[32:14] - Wrestling with God’s Justice and Our Discomfort
[33:15] - God’s Holiness and Our Expectations
[34:06] - The Why Behind God’s Commands: Justice and Protection
[36:16] - Time-Bound Commands and Redemptive Purpose
[38:05] - Modern Israel vs. Ancient Israel: Avoiding Misapplication
[39:41] - Eschatology and Common Distortions
[41:08] - The Dangers of Misapplied Theology
[44:55] - The Spiritual War Behind the Physical War
[49:00] - Jesus: The Fulfillment of God’s Promise
[50:47] - False Gods and the Invitation to True Freedom
[52:48] - Jesus’ Victory and the Offer of Peace
[53:43] - Communion: Remembering the War Jesus Won
[55:16] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Wrestling with War and the Character of God
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### Bible Reading
Deuteronomy 20:10-18 (ESV)
> “When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it. And if it responds to you peaceably and it opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall do forced labor for you and shall serve you. But if it makes no peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it. And when the LORD your God gives it into your hand, you shall put all its males to the sword, but the women and the little ones, the livestock, and everything else in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as plunder for yourselves. And you shall enjoy the spoil of your enemies, which the LORD your God has given you. Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not cities of the nations here. But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, as the LORD your God has commanded, that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the LORD your God.”
Psalm 103:8 (ESV)
> “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
> “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
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### Observation Questions
1. In Deuteronomy 20:10-18, what instructions does God give Israel regarding warfare with cities both near and far? What reasons are given for these commands?
2. According to Psalm 103:8, how is God’s character described? How does this description compare to the way God is sometimes portrayed when people read about war in the Old Testament?
3. In Ephesians 6:12, what does Paul say is the real battle believers are facing? How does this shift the focus from physical conflict to something deeper?
4. The sermon mentioned that God waited over 400 years before judging the Canaanites. What does this suggest about God’s patience and approach to justice? [[30:44]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says God’s commands about war were “measured, purposeful responses to centuries of entrenched evil, injustice, and spiritual corruption.” How does this understanding challenge or change the way people usually read these difficult passages? [[34:06]]
2. Why is it important, according to the sermon, not to create a caricature of God as only wrathful or vengeful? What are the dangers of missing the fullness of God’s character? [[27:56]]
3. The sermon draws a line between the physical wars in the Old Testament and a deeper spiritual conflict. How does seeing the “spiritual war behind the physical war” help us make sense of God’s actions in the Old Testament? [[44:55]]
4. The pastor warns against importing modern assumptions or political agendas into ancient biblical narratives. What are some examples of how this can lead to misunderstanding or even harm? [[41:08]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon invites us to bring our discomfort, confusion, or even anger about these passages honestly before God. When you read difficult parts of the Bible, do you tend to avoid them, argue with them, or wrestle with God about them? What would it look like for you to bring your honest emotions to God this week? [[23:11]]
2. The pastor said, “Don’t let a caricature of God keep you from the character of God.” Are there ways you have reduced God to a one-dimensional figure—maybe only seeing Him as angry, or only as loving? How can you seek a fuller picture of who God is? [[27:56]]
3. The sermon emphasized that God’s justice is not the same as human vengeance, and that He is always working toward redemption. Is there a situation in your life where you are struggling to trust God’s justice or mercy? What would it look like to trust Him with that situation? [[30:44]]
4. The pastor warned against using Old Testament war passages as a blueprint for modern politics or personal agendas. Have you ever seen Scripture misused in this way, either in your own life or in the world around you? How can you be more careful in how you apply the Bible? [[41:08]]
5. The sermon says that behind every physical battle is a spiritual battle, and that Jesus has already won the ultimate victory. Are there “battles” in your life right now—habits, fears, relationships—where you need to remember that Jesus has already fought for your freedom? What would it look like to live in that freedom this week? [[52:48]]
6. The pastor said, “No one is beyond the reach of God’s love; Jesus’ heel was bruised so that our brokenness could be healed.” Is there an area of brokenness in your life where you need to receive God’s healing? What step could you take to invite Jesus into that place? [[52:48]]
7. The sermon closed with an invitation to let go of false images of God and trust in the One who fights for our freedom. What is one practical way you can remind yourself this week of God’s true character—both just and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love? [[53:43]]
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Devotional
Day 1: God’s Justice Is Patient, Purposeful, and Redemptive
God’s justice in the Old Testament is not arbitrary or cruel, but is always measured, patient, and purposeful. He waited over 400 years before judging the Canaanites, giving them every opportunity to turn from their ways. Even when God brings judgment, it is never out of a desire for destruction, but to protect his people and preserve the path to redemption. His justice is always intertwined with his mercy, and his heart is for all to come to repentance rather than perish. [32:14]
Psalm 103:8 (ESV)
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Reflection: Where in your life do you struggle to trust God’s timing or patience, especially when you long for justice? How might remembering God’s patient justice change your perspective today?
Day 2: God’s Commands Against Evil Are Rooted in Covenant and Redemption
The difficult commands God gave to ancient Israel regarding war were not about conquest or ethnic superiority, but about protecting his covenant people from spiritual corruption and preparing the way for the Messiah. The Canaanite nations had practiced deep injustice and evil for generations, and God’s actions were specific, time-bound, and tied to his redemptive plan. These commands are not a model for modern warfare, but a warning against idolatry and spiritual compromise, reminding us that God’s ultimate aim is redemption, not destruction. [36:16]
Deuteronomy 20:16-18 (ESV)
But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are tempted to compromise spiritually? What would it look like to set clear boundaries to protect your heart for God today?
Day 3: The True Character of God: Just and Merciful
It is easy to create a caricature of God as only angry or harsh, but the true God revealed in Scripture is both just and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He is the same God in both the Old and New Testaments, always working for redemption and not for condemnation. God’s justice and mercy are not in conflict; they are perfectly united in his character, and he longs for us to know him as he truly is, not as we imagine or fear him to be. [30:44]
Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV)
Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
Reflection: Have you ever held a distorted view of God’s character? What is one step you can take today to seek a fuller, truer understanding of who God is?
Day 4: The Real Battle: Spiritual War Behind Physical Conflict
Behind the physical wars and struggles in the Bible lies a deeper spiritual conflict. The battles Israel fought were not just against people, but against spiritual forces of evil that sought to corrupt and enslave humanity. God’s ultimate plan was to defeat these powers through Jesus, the promised offspring who would crush the serpent’s head. The cross is where Jesus bore the pain of sin, was struck, and in rising from the grave, decisively defeated Satan and the powers of darkness for us all. [49:00]
Genesis 3:14-15 (ESV)
The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Reflection: What “battles” in your life might actually be spiritual in nature? How can you invite Jesus to fight for you in those areas today?
Day 5: Letting Go of Caricatures and Trusting the True God
Many of us are tempted to create a version of God who simply agrees with us or fits our preferences, but the God revealed in Scripture will not share the throne of our hearts with any false image or idol. He has fought for us, defeated sin and death through the cross, and offers us true freedom and peace. Today, God invites you to let go of any false caricature and trust in the God who has already won the war for your heart, offering you healing, forgiveness, and a new life in him. [52:48]
Colossians 2:13-15 (ESV)
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Reflection: What false image or expectation of God do you need to surrender today? How can you intentionally trust the true God with your heart and your story?
Quotes