The Flood (Bad God! Part 11)

The worldwide flood account retells of a catastrophic deluge that killed untold numbers of human beings. A version of this story exists in many cultures. In this article, we try to untangle the meaning of the flood by looking at it in its original context.

The Tenth Plague (Bad God! Part 10)

There is perhaps no more difficult event in Scripture than the killing of the firstborn sons of Egypt during the tenth plague. Yet the image that this event conjures in our mind may not be quite what Exodus is depicting.

Amalekite Genocide (Bad God! Part 9)

The so-called “genocide” of the Amalekites raises deep moral questions. A closer look at its context reveals a picture that resists easy conclusions.

Canaanite Genocide (Bad God! Part 8)

Few biblical stories raise more questions than the Canaanite “genocide.” A closer look at the ancient context complicates the picture in surprising ways.

God of War (Bad God! Part 7)

Much has been said about God and the warfare He commanded in the Old Testament. It can’t be ignored, but there’s something crucial we keep missing.

The Fear of God (Bad God! Part 6)

Why should we fear the God of love? How is love freely given if it comes from fear? If we understand what it means, biblically, to “fear God,” then these questions resolve themselves.

The Wrath of God (Bad God! Part 4)

We think of many things when we think about the “wrath” of God. But where did the vision of wrath we have today come from? Is it the same thing as the wrath described in the Bible?

Is God Really Jealous? (Bad God! Part 3)

Jealousy is considered one of the most unattractive traits you could find in another person. And yet the Bible boasts about the jealousy of God. So … is God a jealous, petty Deity?