The Bible claims that humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This implies that our moral compass, sense of justice, and ability to love should align with his. Yet, throughout scripture, we see God acting in ways that directly contradict the moral standards he supposedly instilled in us. If he is loving, merciful, and just (Psalm 86:15; 1 John 4:8), why do his actions often defy those very qualities? And why do believers justify his morally questionable deeds by saying, “God’s ways are higher than ours” (Isaiah 55:8-9), as if that makes them acceptable?

God’s Nature vs. His Actions

According to scripture, God is loving, merciful, and patient. Yet, in many biblical accounts, he exhibits jealousy, wrath, and a willingness to kill—even for something as trivial as not worshiping him.

Jealousy and Killing for Worship: In Exodus 20:5, God openly admits to being jealous, stating that he will punish future generations for their ancestors’ sins. This jealousy is demonstrated in events like the massacre of 3,000 Israelites for worshiping a golden calf (Exodus 32:27-28). If jealousy is a flaw in humans, why is it a virtue in God?

Mass Murder and Genocide: God commands the killing of entire populations, including women and children (1 Samuel 15:3; Deuteronomy 20:16-17). If we, as humans, committed such acts today, we would be condemned as war criminals. Why does God get a pass?

Testing and Tormenting the Faithful: The book of Job presents a disturbing example. God allows Satan to torment Job, killing his children, destroying his wealth, and afflicting him with disease—all to prove a point (Job 1:6-12). Would a loving, merciful God need to win a bet with the devil at the cost of innocent suffering?

These contradictions raise the question: if morality is rooted in God’s nature, and we are made in his image, why does his behavior not reflect the morality he expects from us?

“God’s Ways Are Higher”—A Convenient Escape?

Many believers counter these concerns with Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” But this reasoning falls apart upon closer examination. If God’s morality is so far beyond human understanding, then how can we claim to know he is good? If our standard of good and evil is flawed compared to his, then morality itself becomes meaningless.

Imagine if a parent justified harming their child by saying, “You just don’t understand my higher ways.” Would we accept that? Of course not. Yet, when applied to God, this excuse is widely accepted.

The God of Confusion?

Another contradiction arises when we consider 1 Corinthians 14:33: “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” If this is true, why does the Bible contain conflicting messages, ambiguous doctrines, and over 40,000 Christian denominations, all interpreting scripture differently? If God wanted a relationship with us, why make it so confusing? Why speak in riddles, parables, and cryptic texts that require theological degrees to decipher? If he truly wanted clarity, wouldn’t he communicate in a straightforward way?

A Call to Think Critically

These contradictions are not minor details—they challenge the very core of God’s supposed nature. If he is just, then why is his justice inconsistent? If he is merciful, why does he commit acts of cruelty? If he desires a relationship with us, why does he make understanding him so difficult?

Rather than accepting contradictions under the guise of “faith,” perhaps it’s time to ask: are we making excuses for a deity whose actions would be unacceptable by any human standard? And if so, what does that say about the legitimacy of the belief itself?

What do you think? Are these contradictions worth questioning, or do we simply accept them without scrutiny?

Sources

Holy Bible, New International Version. (2025). Zondervan.

For further reading on biblical contradictions and morality, consider:

Stark, T. (2011). The Human Faces of God: What Scripture Reveals When It Gets God Wrong (And Why Inerrancy Tries to Hide It). Wipf and Stock Publishers.

Loftus, J. W. (2012). Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity. Prometheus Books.

Carrier, R. (2014). On the Historicity of Jesus: Why We Might Have Reason for Doubt. Sheffield Phoenix Press.