Dear KSM,
Recently, I came across a short video on your YouTube channel in which you raised concerns about God, the Bible, and Christianity. In that video, you questioned the consistency of the God of Scripture, pointing to passages that appear to portray Him as violent, contradictory, or capable of regretting His own decisions. These issues are not new. They have surfaced repeatedly across history and have been examined, debated, and written about extensively by Christian theologians, historians, and biblical scholars over many centuries.
Christian faith has never been afraid of questions. From Job’s anguished cries to the Psalms of lament, Scripture itself records human beings wrestling honestly with God, His ways, and His actions. For this reason, your reflections deserve more than outrage, name-calling, or emotional defensiveness. They deserve a thoughtful, patient, and theologically grounded response—one that respects both Scripture and the human intellect.
At the heart of your concern lies a tension many people struggle with: how can a God who declares that He does not lie or repent also be described in Scripture as “regretting” certain actions or judging entire nations? This open letter is written not merely as a response to you, but as a teaching moment for others who may be asking similar questions, offering a Christian explanation that is honest, biblical, and centered on the full revelation of God.
1. “God Is Not a Man That He Should Repent”: What the Bible Actually Means
Numbers 23:19 declares, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.” This statement affirms God’s unchanging moral nature and faithfulness, not that God is incapable of responding meaningfully to human actions. Scripture consistently presents God as relational, not mechanical—engaged with humanity without being unstable or inconsistent.
When the Bible says that God “repented” or “regretted” something, as in 1 Samuel 15:11 concerning Saul, it employs what theologians call anthropopathic language—human emotional expressions used to describe divine actions in ways finite minds can understand. This does not suggest that God made a mistake or lacked foresight. Rather, it communicates God’s genuine grief over human rebellion within history.
Significantly, the same chapter that says God “regretted” making Saul king also insists that “the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent” (1 Samuel 15:29). Scripture is not contradicting itself; it is distinguishing between God’s unchanging nature and His relational dealings with human choices.
2. Divine Judgment and the Problem of Violence in the Old Testament
Another major concern raised relates to God’s commands in the Old Testament, particularly judgments against nations such as the Amalekites. These passages are undeniably difficult, and Christianity has never denied this. However, they cannot be read responsibly without context.
Christian theology has long maintained that such texts must be understood within their historical context, acknowledging the violent realities of the ancient Near East; their covenantal context, in which God was forming Israel as a redemptive people; and progressive revelation, through which God’s purposes and character are revealed with increasing clarity over time.
These judgments were not random acts of cruelty. They were judicial actions against societies marked by entrenched violence, systemic corruption, and practices such as child sacrifice. Even then, Scripture affirms that God does not delight in judgment. “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked,” says the Lord (Ezekiel 33:11). Judgment in the Bible is always a last resort, not divine delight.
3. Elisha, the Bears, and the Misuse of Sacred Texts
The account in 2 Kings 2 involving Elisha and the bears is often cited as evidence of a cruel or irrational God. Yet careful study shows that many popular retellings oversimplify the narrative. The Hebrew term translated as “children” does not necessarily refer to innocent toddlers but can describe hostile youths or young men. The incident itself was not playful teasing but a public and aggressive rejection of God’s prophetic authority.
The passage records judgment, not divine entertainment or approval of violence. The deeper issue is not that the Bible contains difficult texts, but that many of us fail to study and teach them responsibly. When context, theology, and historical background are ignored, confusion is almost inevitable.
4. Jesus Christ: The Full Revelation of God’s Character
Christian faith ultimately holds that the clearest and final revelation of God is found not in isolated Old Testament narratives but in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:3 describes Him as “the exact representation of God’s nature.” Any understanding of God must therefore be interpreted through the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Christ.
In Jesus, we see justice without cruelty, authority without oppression, and power expressed through sacrificial love. The same God who judges sin is the God who entered human history, bore injustice upon Himself, and absorbed human violence at the cross. The cross does not deny divine justice; it fulfills it through mercy.
Conclusion: Faith That Thinks, Belief That Wrestles
Christianity does not demand the suspension of reason. It calls believers to love God with heart, soul, and mind. Difficult biblical texts are not reasons to dismiss faith; they are invitations to deeper study, intellectual humility, and theological maturity.
The God of the Bible is not confused, cruel, or inconsistent. He is holy, patient, just, and ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ—the God who judges evil, grieves over sin, and redeems humanity at great personal cost. The problem is not that Scripture is too honest. It is that too often, we are not.
Yours truly…
Eric Otchere is a minister of the gospel and the author of ‘Christian Maturing’ and ‘Life in Christ’. He is a passionate Christian blogger at www.livingourbible.com, where he shares biblically grounded insights for everyday life. Through the Eden Minds Podcast, he also creates short, faith-inspired video content on TikTok. Connect: otchereeric@gmail.com
