Why did God command Israel to kill at times?

One of the most challenging questions many people ask when reading the Bible is: If God is love, why did He command the Israelites at times to kill? For instance, during the conquest of Canaan, God instructed the Israelites to destroy entire nations, including men, women, and children (Deuteronomy 20:16-18). At first glance, this seems to contradict the New Testament’s portrayal of God as loving, merciful, and compassionate. First John 4:8 states, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” How can this God of love also command killing?

This question touches on the character of God, the nature of His justice, the seriousness of sin, and the ultimate purpose of His redemptive plan. It is not a simple issue and requires careful study of Scripture, historical context, and theological principles. The Bible presents God as both just and merciful, holy and loving, patient and righteous in judgment. Understanding why He commanded killing at certain times helps us see His love in a deeper, more complete way.

In this article, we will examine this question by looking at biblical examples where God commanded killing, exploring the reasons behind His commands, and showing how His actions align with His love and justice. We will also discuss how these commands fit into the bigger picture of salvation history, leading to the cross of Christ, where God’s justice and love meet perfectly.

God’s Character

God Is Love

The Bible teaches that God is love (1 John 4:8), but it also reveals that God is holy (Isaiah 6:3) and just (Deuteronomy 32:4). His love cannot be separated from His holiness and justice. To love perfectly means to also hate evil. Psalm 5:4-5 states, “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity.”

God’s love is not sentimental indulgence. It is a holy love that seeks what is good and destroys what is evil. When God commanded killing, it was never out of cruelty or capriciousness, but because evil had reached such a level that it threatened the safety of humanity.

The Seriousness of Sin

Sin is not a trivial matter. It is rebellion against God, the source of life. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death.” All sin leads to death, both spiritually and physically. God’s commands for killing in the Old Testament were always in the context of sin, judgment, and the protection of His people from corruption.

God’s love does not ignore sin. Instead, it provides a way of salvation for the repentant and justice for the unrepentant. Without justice, love would be incomplete.

Examples of God Commanding Killing

The Flood

The first large-scale example is the flood in Noah’s time. Genesis 6:5-7 states, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth.’”

Here, God destroyed nearly all of humanity because evil had become total. Yet even in this act, we see His love: He saved Noah and his family to preserve humanity and fulfill His plan of redemption through Christ.

The Conquest of Canaan

In Deuteronomy 20:16-18, God commanded Israel: “But of the cities of these peoples which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive, but you shall utterly destroy them… lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God.”

The Canaanites were deeply corrupt, practicing idolatry, child sacrifice, and immorality. God waited over 400 years before bringing judgment on them (Genesis 15:16), demonstrating His patience in allowing time to repent. The command to destroy them was both judgment on their sin and protection for Israel, ensuring they could remain faithful to God and be the people through whom the Messiah would come.

The Amalekites

In 1 Samuel 15:2-3, God commanded Saul: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel… Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them.’”

The Amalekites had attacked Israel during the Exodus (Exodus 17:8-16), targeting the weak and vulnerable. They remained enemies of God and His people for generations. God’s command to destroy them was both justice for their sins and protection for Israel’s future.

Other Judicial Commands

God also provided laws for capital punishment in Israel, such as for murder (Exodus 21:12), idolatry (Deuteronomy 13:6-10), and other serious offenses. These laws underscored the seriousness of sin and maintained order in the covenant community.

Reasons Behind God’s Commands

Judgment on Sin

The primary reason God commanded killing was judgment on sin. Just as a human government punishes criminals to maintain justice, God, as the moral ruler of the universe, judges sin to uphold righteousness. Unlike human rulers, God’s judgments are always perfect, based on His complete knowledge of every heart.

Protection of His People

God also commanded killing to protect His chosen people, Israel. They were the nation through whom He would send the Messiah. If Israel had been corrupted by the practices of surrounding nations, the plan of salvation could have been derailed. God’s commands were acts of love to preserve His people and His redemptive plan.

Limiting Evil

Sometimes, God’s commands to kill limited the spread of evil. By removing deeply corrupt nations like the Canaanites, God prevented their destructive practices from spreading further, similar to removing a cancer tumor lest it destroy the whole body. In this way, His commands were protective not only for Israel but for humanity as a whole.

The Bigger Picture of Salvation

All of God’s commands in the Old Testament must be understood in the context of His ultimate plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. The law, the judgments, and even the commands to kill were part of preparing the way for the cross, where Christ would bear the punishment for sin. In Christ, God’s justice and love meet perfectly.

God’s Patience Before Judgment

The Case of the Canaanites

God’s judgment did not come suddenly. In Genesis 15:16, God told Abraham that his descendants would return to Canaan after four generations, “for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” This illustrates God’s patience. He gave the Canaanites hundreds of years to repent, but they continued in sin.

Nineveh as an Example of Mercy

In contrast, when Nineveh repented at Jonah’s preaching, God spared them (Jonah 3:10). This demonstrates that God’s desire is always mercy, not judgment. Killing was commanded only when sin persisted without repentance.

God’s Desire for Repentance

Ezekiel 33:11 states, “‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.’” God’s commands to kill were never because He enjoyed destruction but because justice demanded it after long patience.

The Cross as the Ultimate Answer

Justice and Love at the Cross

The ultimate answer to the question lies in the cross of Christ. At the cross, God poured out His wrath on sin while demonstrating His love for sinners. Romans 5:8 states, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The killing in the Old Testament foreshadowed the seriousness of sin and the need for judgment. At the cross, Jesus took the judgment upon Himself. God does not ignore sin, but in His love, He provides salvation.

The End of Earthly Warfare in Christ

Jesus taught His followers to love their enemies (Matthew 5:44) and rebuked Peter for using the sword (John 18:11). This does not contradict the Old Testament but fulfills it. The earthly battles of Israel were temporary and specific to their time. In the New Testament, the focus is now on spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12). Crimes are judged by world governments, not the church.

The Final Judgment

While the cross offers salvation, the Bible also teaches that a final judgment is coming. Revelation 20:11-15 describes the great white throne judgment, where those not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. God’s justice and love remain consistent: He patiently offers salvation, but those who persist in sin will face judgment.

Lessons for Believers Today

Understanding God’s Holiness

The commands to kill remind us of God’s holiness and the seriousness of sin. We should never take sin lightly, for it leads to death. Believers are called to live holy lives, set apart for God (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Trusting God’s Justice

Even when we do not fully understand, we can trust that God’s justice is perfect, for He gave His life to save us. His judgments are based on complete knowledge, unlike human judgments. We should rest in the truth that “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25).

Focusing on Spiritual Warfare

Believers today are called to fight spiritual battles through prayer, faith, and the Word of God. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age.”

Living in God’s Love

Finally, believers are called to live in this love, showing mercy, forgiveness, and compassion to others, while also standing firm against sin and evil.