Is the God of the Old Testament Really Good? (feat. Dr. Heath Thomas)

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 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 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 TakeawaysThe 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 within the Bible’s larger story.Faith does not require 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 Markers00:00 - Welcome to Heath Thomas02:01 - All of Life, All for Jesus04:03 - From Rules to Relationship08:39 - Jesus Is the Clue10:22 - What Does a Relationship With God Look Like?14:13 - Personality and the Way We Experience God16:36 - How Heath Became an Old Testament Scholar19:20 - Why Does God Seem Angry in the Old Testament?21:49 - Israel and God’s Rescue Mission25:18 - A Kingdom of Priests and a Blessing to the World27:36 - What About War in the Old Testament?30:25 - Starting the Story With the God of Life33:03 - Why Did God Allow Us to Sin?36:10 - Faith When You Do Not Have the Answer39:03 - Why, How Long, and the Presence of God41:24 - Are We Reading the Old Testament Wrong?42:52 - Why So Much of the Old Testament Is Poetry47:42 - Where to Start Exploring the Old Testament48:21 - Where to Connect With HeathLinks and MentionsThe 30-Minute Bible - An accessible introduction to the larger story of Scripture.Reading the Old Testament as Christian Scripture - Heath’s book on the Old Testament, God’s character, and its connection to the New Testament.Oklahoma Baptist University - Heath serves as president.Listen to the full episode of You Asked, Let’s Talk, follow the podcast, and share this conversation with someone who has wrestled with the God of the Old Testament or wondered whether difficult Bible passages can still be trusted.