Ah yes, but i believe they're both the same person.
I have to make up excuses to myself to justify God endorsing things like David and the 200 foreskins, or that guy that plunged a dagger in the fat king as a message from YHWH.
...etcetera, etcetera...
I'm just sick and tired of all the violence and suffering which is and will be a part of God's Creation.
Also sick of myself and my flesh.
Yes, the violence and suffering will end eventually, except maybe for the sacrificial animals (not sure).
And then i'm confronted by the "traditional" view of eternal conscious torment (i.e. eternal life without Christ) for the unsaved...
Everything just sucks...
Sorry..
Hey, no biggie...I do understsnd that a lot of people are having issues with what you do. The thing to remember is that the curse from the enemy is the reason for all the evil and violence. Selfish men with selfish deeds and desires all stemming from the lies of the enemy, and the desire for power and control. To be God, and supreme ruler over all.
Some of the things like the dagger that you refered to had to be done so that God could show Himself strong (make His presence known) to the gentiles or barbarians that were set out against His people. Its more spiritual really than anything else. The forskins were mans part of the blood covenant that God created with Abraham, to which God one upped us, by sending His one and only Son to be beaten, and whipped and crucified in our place.
God is a righteous judge, and therefore has to keep all of His own laws. There is but one way to heaven and eternity with Him and that is through Jesus Christ. Anyone trying to get in another way is in error, and unfortunately has to submit to eternal judgement. Those are the rules, and they cannot be changed, otherwise God's integrity is in question. He desires that no one perish, but if a person chooses to disobey or chooses another way, then they suffer the consequences, no matter how much it hurts Him. And i can guarantee you that God does everything He can to becon, and try to convince someone to follow Him so that they will not have to end up in turmoil and not blessed, but because of people's choices...They choose the ways of the enemy. So in all honesty its not God's fault. It's people being stubborn and hard hearted, refusing to submit to God's ways.
I heard a story once of a woman in a communist country, who had no idea who Jesus was. Never encountered anyone to tell her about Him...and yet one day, He talked to her in her language and she decided to accept Him and find somewhere to worship. He pursued her, just like He does to all of us, but we have to make the choice to listen.
We have to accept Who He is, and believe His righteousness and integrity, and look to see what the new covenant is all about. All of this I'm sick and tired of ..... is just the enemy trying to deceive people, trying to get them to find fault with God to get them judged, and to turn people away from thee only one who can save their souls.
The New Testament (Covenant), is one of grace and Jesus's love for us to die in our place. To take the punishment of our sins, so that we don't have to be judged for them when judgement day comes. And the rest is all about how to live this life so that we can be blessed, and draw as many others into the kingdom and It's ways as possible, so that they dont perish too. So they can accept this free gift that Jesus died to give us. And for us to learn about what our God given authority and purpose on this earth is.
Jesus's death gave us authority over the devil. his power and authority in this earth has been taken away! But if we do nothing to learn about all our inheritance entitles us...then we perish for a lack of knowledge, and we live a defeated selfish life...that will put us in heaven as one barely escaping fire....maybe?
So its your choice. Believe the lies of the enemy, saying how could a good God, be what you perceive Him to be.... or trust that He loves you and desires to bless you, and use you to further His gospel, and to take His Blessings to the rest of those around you or wherever He desires you to be. Its really that simple.
Since the beginning of all time, God has written a plan out for your life. And when Judgement day rolls around, how will you stand up or compare? Will you have done all you could to seek Him and His ways, or have you lived this life as a selfish person, who only thought about you. This is what Jesus meant when He said whoever loves his life will loose it, and whoever looses his life for His sake will find it.
I pray that you will read Hebrews and find out more of what Jesus went through, suffered, submitted to obedience, and died to give you, and allow The Truth of the Word of God replace all of your thoughts.
I pray God bless you abundantly!