What do you do with the hardest passages in the Bible?

In this episode, Dr. E responds to a listener wrestling with one of the biggest objections people have about Christianity: Why did God command the destruction of entire nations in the Old Testament?

Dr. Easley walks through passages in Joshua, Deuteronomy, 1 Samuel, and 2 Kings while explaining the historical, theological, and spiritual context behind God’s judgment against the Canaanites and other nations. This conversation explores God’s sovereignty, justice, mercy, evil, idolatry, and why these passages still feel deeply difficult for believers today.

Rather than avoiding the tension, this episode honestly addresses it—pointing listeners back to the holiness of God and ultimately to Jesus Christ, where justice and mercy meet at the cross.

If you’ve ever struggled with difficult Bible passages or wondered how to answer skeptics who call God cruel or inconsistent, this episode is for you.

Chapters

00:00 – Why These Passages Are So Difficult

01:52 – Understanding God’s Judgment in the Old Testament

05:09 – The Wickedness of the Canaanites

08:02 – Does God Take Pleasure in Judgment?

10:18 – Justice, Mercy, and the Cross of Christ

13:15 – Wrestling With God’s Sovereignty

Key Topics Covered

Why God commanded war in the Old Testament
God’s justice and sovereignty
The wickedness of the Canaanites
Mercy, holiness, and judgment
Difficult Bible passages explained
Spiritual warfare in Scripture
Romans 9 and the sovereignty of God
How the cross fulfills justice and mercy
Answering skeptical objections to Christianity
Wrestling honestly with difficult theology

Links Mentioned:

Is God a Moral Monster? by Paul Copan

Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here.

If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.