Episode 2 – Is the God of the Old Testament Really Good? | Heath Thomas

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Episode Summary

Why does God seem angry, violent, or even mean in parts of the Old Testament while Jesus seems so loving? Bobby McGraw sits down with Old Testament scholar and Oklahoma Baptist University president Dr. Heath Thomas to wrestle honestly with that question.

Heath argues that we often begin the biblical story in the wrong place. Before God is described as judge, He is revealed as the Creator and giver of life. From there, the Old Testament tells a much larger story of rescue, blessing, discipline, and restoration. Along the way, Heath explores difficult questions about war, judgment, poetry, doubt, and why following Jesus does not mean having every answer. Sometimes, he says, Jesus is less a simple answer and more the clue we keep following.

Key Takeaways

●     The Old Testament begins with God as Creator and giver of life, not as an angry judge.

●     God’s relationship with Israel is part of a larger rescue story meant to bring blessing to the world.

●     Difficult passages about war and judgment make more sense when read within the Bible’s larger story.

●     Faith does not require having an answer to every question. Sometimes “I don’t know” is an honest place to begin.

●     Much of the Old Testament is poetry, meant to shape how we see reality rather than simply give us information.

Chapter Markers

00:00 - Welcome to Heath Thomas

02:01 - All of Life, All for Jesus

04:03 - From Rules to Relationship

08:39 - Jesus Is the Clue

10:22 - What Does a Relationship With God Look Like?

14:13 - Personality and the Way We Experience God

16:36 - How Heath Became an Old Testament Scholar

19:20 - Why Does God Seem Angry in the Old Testament?

21:49 - Israel and God’s Rescue Mission

25:18 - A Kingdom of Priests and a Blessing to the World

27:36 - What About War in the Old Testament?

30:25 - Starting the Story With the God of Life

33:03 - Why Did God Allow Us to Sin?

36:10 - Faith When You Do Not Have the Answer

39:03 - Why, How Long, and the Presence of God

41:24 - Are We Reading the Old Testament Wrong?

42:52 - Why So Much of the Old Testament Is Poetry

47:42 - Where to Start Exploring the Old Testament

48:21 - Where to Connect With Heath

Links and Mentions

●     The 30-Minute Bible - Recommended as an accessible first step for understanding the larger story of Scripture.

●     Reading the Old Testament as Christian Scripture - Heath’s book exploring the Old Testament, the character of God, and its connection to the New Testament.

●     Oklahoma Baptist University - Heath serves as president. Visit okbu.edu.

●     Abraham Kuyper - Dutch theologian referenced in Heath’s discussion of Christ’s lordship over every area of life.