@ebrown p,
I was like you in that it broke the Heart to read some parts of the old testament and not feel like it was wrong. It was only a feeling: (1) I am not God or even close to being able to understand him, I take it on Faith that He is most Holy, Most Loving, Most Full of Justice and on I could go but in fact He Is Not Only The Very Attributes that ALL of Mankind Desires to Be, But in Fact I Believe He is the Very Essence of These. (2) Sometimes we do forget we are less in that He Is God! He can do whatever He wants and call it whatever He wants, we are His Creation only. Thank God He Is Like I Said Love Itself, Mercy Itself, Justice Itself,........... and on I could go but lets leave it at Thank God He is Who He is Period. (3) The Leaders of Old were so enamored of Him that to even speak His name was to bring a curse upon you because He is undescribable. In other words He is so Holy we can't imagine even part of Him. (4) I could go on like the Library of Congress but what is the point, NO ONE WOULD EVER GET THE POINT WITHOUT THE FAITH TO UNDERSTAND. Lastly I would like to say that I do understand that a People, Nation, Religion, a Whole Tribe could get to the point where not only the people would need to be chastised but that it would Infect anything and everything around them. That is WHY He would want to totally wipe out them ALL just like when Mankind Fell so Far From GRACE that He Wiped Out the Whole World, The Flood!!! Including All Life on the face of the Earth except what was Saved with Noah. Even then evil raised its head shortly after. So What is Your Reason for Being Judgemental on the Good Lord?