Making Sense of Divine Violence

Reflections

There’s a lot of violence in the Old Testament, but isn’t God loving? How do we make sense of all this? In this episode, we are exploring a few key things to keep in mind while looking at the topic of violence in the Bible.

Note to parents: The terms genocide, child sacrifice, sexual fertility rituals, and sex slavery are used in this episode. Before listening with your child, consider if they are ready to be introduced to these concepts and if you are prepared to carefully answer any follow-up questions they may have.

Bible Reading:
Joshua 1:1-9

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you see violence at work in your community?
2. Consider God’s character of justice, mercy, and love. How does he want to restore your community?
3. What is one step you can take this week to join God’s justice, mercy, and sacrificial love?

Want to Go Deeper?
Check out this episode's complete Bible study to access a video and explore more detailed questions for personal study and group discussion.

You can also review this blog on the BibleProject website, “Why Did God Command the Invasion of Canaan in the Book of Joshua” by Andy Patton.
Show Credits:

• Host: Cheree Hayes
• Message: Dr. Tim Mackie
• Production and Bible Reading: Dan Gummel
• Theme music: Grant William Harold
• Background Music: "Tides" by Some Were At Sea

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