Daily Manna Is The Bible Cruel? Monday November 17th 2025

Daily Manna Is The Bible Cruel? Monday November 17th 2025

Key Verse

“But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth” (Deuteronomy 20:16).

TEXT — Deuteronomy 20:10-20

Message

Robert Edward Lee, a Confederate General in the American Civil War, seemed invincible as he won a string of victories in 1862 and 1863. But two years later in 1865, he and his troops were routed and surrendered to Gen. Ulysses Simpson Grant, effectively ending the war. Reflecting later, Lee had this to say about the cruelty of war: “What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbours, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world.”

In today’s passage, God told the children of Israel they were to spare nations offering to surrender and make peace with them among those outside the circumference of the Promised Land. But those within the Promised Land zone were to be destroyed, including women, children, and everything that breathed. The reason was to keep away evil influence from the nation of Israel. Economic trees were commanded to be preserved.

Many Bible critics have wondered how a holy God would be associated with the brutal murder of innocent women and children in Canaan. Atheists and scoffers have also raised much dust about it. But they lack understanding that God loves sinners but punishes their sins according to the statutes and judgments contained in His word. The destruction of the nations in the Promised Land was an act of God’s judgment on the most terrible, heinous and detestable depravity you can ever imagine. They sacrificed their children to their abominable gods and practised unprintable acts of immorality. God gave them thousands of years to repent and return to His ways, but they continued in their sins and had to suffer the consequences (Leviticus 18:6-23).

The Bible isn’t cruel—it is honest. Uncontrollable depravity results in judgment and destruction. Sinners face destruction because of the depravity of their wickedness and sins. God has sent a Saviour, Jesus Christ, to the world, and those who repent and return to Him will receive forgiveness and mercy.

Thought for the day

Sinners are to blame for their predicaments.

• Bible
• in one year
• Ezekiel 22 – 24(Read By Alexander Scourby)

About Author – Pastor W.F. Kumuyi

Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.