Three Minute Theology is a series of blog posts, each designed to offer a quick but meaningful look at a subject related to God and faith—something you can read in just a few minutes but reflect on for much longer. Think of this as a starting point, not the full journey. But don’t stop here. Think of this as a starting point, not the finish line. My hope is that these snapshots will spark your curiosity and challenge you to dig deeper, open your Bible, ask questions, and explore how these truths shape your everyday life. After all, the best theology isn’t just learned—it’s lived.
If you’ve ever read through the Old Testament, you’ve likely wrestled with the stories of war, judgment, and divine wrath. How do we reconcile the God of love revealed in Jesus with the God who commanded the destruction of entire nations? Is He a different God? Did He change?
I think the answer lies in deepening our understanding of God’s holiness, justice, and ultimate plan of redemption.
God is Holy and Just
God is perfectly holy—set apart, pure, and righteous (Isaiah 6:3). Sin is an offense against His holiness, and He can’t ignore it without compromising His justice. The Old Testament shows God bringing judgment on sin, often through war or destruction. When He commanded Israel to drive out the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 7:1-6), it was not about ethnic cleansing but moral cleansing. The Canaanites were deeply corrupt, engaging in idolatry, child sacrifice, and immorality (Leviticus 18:24-30).
God is Patient
God is not quick-tempered or reckless in His judgments. He gave the Canaanites more than 400 years to repent (Genesis 15:16). When Nineveh repented at Jonah’s preaching, He relented (Jonah 3:10). But when nations persisted in evil, judgment eventually came. Even Israel faced God’s wrath when they rebelled, being sent into exile (2 Kings 17:7-23).
God Has an Ultimate Plan of Redemption
We have to view God’s apparent Old Testament violence in light of the bigger story—He was working to bring about the redemption of humanity through Christ. Israel was chosen to be a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6), through whom the Savior would come. If they had been corrupted by pagan influences, God’s redemptive plan could have been derailed.
Jesus Christ is God’s Plan
The Old Testament was a time of law and justice; the New Testament is a time of grace and mercy through Jesus (John 1:17). God’s justice did not disappear—it was satisfied at the cross, where His wrath against sin was poured out on Jesus (Isaiah 53:5, Romans 3:25-26). The violence we see in the Old Testament reminds us of the seriousness of sin and the incredible love of God in offering His Son as our substitute.
God has not changed—He is both just and merciful (Malachi 3:6). The Old Testament shows us His righteousness; the New Testament shows us His grace. In Jesus, we see the full picture: a God who judges sin but also provides salvation. The real question is not why God judged sin in the past, but whether we will accept His free offer of grace today.