Why would any kind God use the death of an innocent child to barter for the release of his people? It seems like very much a bullying way to go about it. Why would God need to threaten, and what does it say about the charecter of any individual who would do such a thing?
2007-05-20 14:21:51 · 20 answers · asked by sketch_mylife 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God was bad in the old days, then he accepted Jesus, now he is good and doesn't do things like that anymore.
2007-05-20 14:27:08 · answer #1 · answered by Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
To show Pharaoh he was "all-powerful" and to intimidate him into letting the Hebrew slaves go. First of all, and "all powerful" god could have done anything he wanted if he wanted to free the Hebrews (if they were even slaves in the first place) He did not have to resort to killing the INNOCENT. He could have snapped his almighty fingers and freed them--but he didn't. Not only that, it says in the bible that Yahweh "hardened Pharaoh's heart"--so Yahweh is responsible for Pharaoh not freeing the Hebrews in the first place, thereby making Yahweh responsible for the reason and the method of killing the first born! Without Yahweh's interference in "hardening" Pharaoh's heart, perhaps Pharaoh might have changed his mind... But then again, "EVERY decision is from the Lord" Proverbs 16:33--so this means Yahweh planned it that way. He apparently likes the smell of burning sacrificial flesh (genesis 8) and the sacrifice of the first born. Circumcision is actually a replacement for the sacrifice of the first born. That is of course, if you believe this nonsense.
2016-05-22 12:12:34 · answer #2 · answered by vernice 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it keeps the whole infanticide thing much simpler, if you go for the second-born, or the middle-born, you can bet your bottom shekel that tyhese crafty humans will find a way round it, probably just wouldn't have any more after the first one. Also it would be a monumental pain in the butt if you're trying to make a 'Godly' point and you selected the last-born to make it with, guaranteed that half of them would turn up with a lawyer and affidavit that they are planning to have 'just one more' later.
It would completely ruin the whole 'Shock and Awe' value of having the Angel of Death swooping around clobbering the sprogs and scaring the bemoses out of everyone.
Nope, if you are going to smite the offspring, then you have to go for the first-born, and remember when push came to shove he even did the same with his own kid !
Oh, and what does it say about the Omnipresent persona ?
Completely certifiably and psychoticly psychopathic ! In any terms. Should be locked up, everywhere ( taking into account the Omnipresence ).
2007-05-20 14:31:32 · answer #3 · answered by cosmicvoyager 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Maybe from God's point of view, it is an act of mercy, since the babies go to heaven, being too young to have committed a deliberate sin, nor being old enough to understand the concept of repentance, yet (if you buy into the Baptist belief about the "age of accountability"). It is the parents who suffer, since they have to bear the loss of their child.
Besides, if you assume that a woman has the "right to choose", then why do you get upset if God commits abortion of the innocents? Aren't you being hypocritical? Does a human female have more rights than God?
2007-05-20 14:30:21 · answer #4 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
God said the last plague will be done by Pharaohs hands. Pharaoh went and killed all of the Jews first born, and God did the same back. So Pharaoh chose to kill the children.
2007-05-20 14:28:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
before God killed the egytian first borns, he gave instructions to them (both esraelites and egyptians) for them to avoid these deaths. the egyptians defied the true god Jehova, they didn't obey him. the egyptians relied on there gods. so they suffered this calamity.
well, God do not want anyone to die in the first place. but its the egyptians who is preventing the esraelites to leave egypt so that they can worship Him and failure to worship him is punishable under the mosaic law. but god do not want to punish his people(esraelites) either. and even before He killed the egyptian firstborns He gave enough proof that he is a real God, unlike the gods and godesses of egypt. this could have been avoided had they let esrael go.
as for more info... kindly read the whole chapter of exodus in the bible
2007-05-20 14:39:00 · answer #6 · answered by genzo 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well first of all, God owns everything and everybody. We are under his authority because he gave us life, and he can take it away.
Second, God can see if people are going to grow in or have faith. You are judging the brief infancy of children when God can see their whole sinful life as easily as you would read a map.
The people that fall under Gods wrath are NOT innocent. Keep in mind there is always a way out of wrath, but mankind rarely takes it. God is just in what he does.
2007-05-20 14:34:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Pharaoh killed all the Jews children God just returned the favor
2007-05-20 14:40:07 · answer #8 · answered by Gifted 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry, I didn't realize God's character was up for debate. How many of you support abortion rights? How many support the death penalty? God did what He knew He had to do.
You or any other human has absolutely no right or authority to question His judgement. He created you, He alone knows how long you will live, and He made no promises as to how long you will live. You draw just as many breaths as He says you will, and not one more. Get used to it.
2007-05-20 14:34:03 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That's just a story used to frighten people into compliance.
I myself will not worship any deity about which such a story is told, whether I actually believe the story or not. No being with less compassion than a toddler deserves my attention, much less my reverence.
2007-05-20 14:25:30 · answer #10 · answered by Huddy 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋