The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. –
Proverbs 21:31
You cannot read the Bible without encountering accounts of nations and people engaged in mortal conflict. The violence in God’s word may cause some to dismiss it entirely. But in adopting that approach, you would miss a critical piece of God’s truth about Himself and the world.
Many times in the Old Testament, the reigning culture is described as when “men did what was right in their own eyes.” That cultural construct did not lead to a world of peace; instead, a self-righteous society resulted in rampant evil, bringing ruin to everything good on Earth. Yet, God took the very thing destroying mankind and used it to rescue them.
Death was man’s doing, it was the nature of sin itself, violent, human destruction, but God used it to accomplish eternal grace for mankind. As Christ died at the brutal hands of a sinful world, God’s perfect justice against sin and mercy towards mankind poured outwards and covered even the darkest soul. Salvation was accomplished when God defeated evil and violence! This salvation is something no person, regardless of intentions or preparedness could do on their own merit. Violence in the Bible showcases how much forgiveness and mercy there is in God’s salvation of us.
Today, in a world where it is in vogue to avoid anything that offends your senses, do not miss God’s WHOLE story. As you read both the Old and New Testament, look for the entire picture of how great the rescue of mankind through the salvation of Jesus Christ really is
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