How will you reconcile the genocides of the Old Testament with an All-Loving God?

Answer 1

This depends entirely on what you mean by an all-loving God. If by all-loving you mean that love is all God is and that one single attribute must be the only one exercised then the view held is not the God revealed in The Bible. The God of the Bible is also a God of holiness and truth and justice. Further than this He is all-knowing and so any judgments He makes are 100% correct, unlike human judgment which can and does err, or is frequently biased.

Secondly, the genocide of the Canaanites is often discussed as if the Canaanites were sweet and innocent and God was therefore a horrible ogre. Nothing could be further from the truth. These people actually killed their own children by sacrificing them to their pagan idols and many other similar abominations. Many of them would be locked up today if they were around.

Thirdly, it must be remembered that there were many of the Canaanites who were not destroyed or who were only partially destroyed and continued to live alongside and even with the Israelites. Those who were destroyed showed a particular interest in attacking Israel repeatedly and showing no intention of diminishing their animosity. Archaeological evidence shows continuity of Canaanite civilization in certain areas which the Bible also says were not conquered.

All that said, this is not an easy question, nor one to be taken lightly, nor easily dismissed. But several things are clear from reading the narratives. The Amalekites for example, were totally merciless practitioners of genocide themselves. They had been following the Israelites and slaughtering those who lagged behind such as the weak, elderly or disables. Since they were totally relentless in their attitude there was not much choice to leave even a remnant to continue such activities.

Even in the midst of such judgment, it is also evident that there was a way of escape open to those who wanted it. God is also a God of mercy.