Did God Really Command Genocide? Wrestling with Divine Violence in the Bible

How can a loving God command violence—and even the destruction of entire nations?

In this sobering and necessary episode of Gospel Gumbo, we take an honest look at some of the most difficult passages in the Bible: God’s commands to drive out and destroy the Canaanites. We don’t sidestep the tension—and we don’t rush to resolve it either.

This episode explores:

• What the Bible actually says about Israel’s conquest of Canaan
• Why these passages are called genocide by modern readers
• The historical and moral context of Canaanite evil and injustice
• How divine judgment relates to God’s holiness and patience
• The connection between Old Testament violence and the cross of Christ, where God absorbs violence Himself
• What it means for Christians to be peacemakers, even in a violent world

This isn’t an easy episode. But if we care about truth—and the people these texts have hurt or confused—we must face these questions with humility and hope.

Thanks for listening.

Contact me here: gospelgumbopodcast@gmail.com for corrections, suggestions, encouragements, questions.