That Time Your God Murdered Thousands Of Boys In Egypt To Show Off His Strength

If you’re not familiar with the story, it happens in Exodus 7-12

The Condensed Version Of The Plagues In Egypt

Yahweh, the god of the old testament, also known as “the god of the hills” finally decided to help ‘his people’, the Israelis, become freed from slavery. Even though the Israelis were this god’s favorites and only ‘chosen’ people, this god did allow them to be enslaved in Egypt for four centuries. But then, he decided, it was time for them to be freed. (Later in history, this god allowed them to be slaves again in other places)

Moses, the spokesperson for this god, and leader of the Israelis, was the go-between for the reigning Pharaoh and this god. The idea was to threaten the Pharoah with various plagues that this god would inflict, not just on Pharoah, but all of Egypt, if Pharoah did not did not let the Israelis go free.

However, it gets complicated. It was not as simple as god making a threat and Pharoah making a decision. This was not merely the time for this god to free the Israelis, but it was also an opportunity for him to show off his powers.

According to the Bible, this god actually hardened the heart of Pharoah each time a threat of a new plague was made. The purpose of hardening the heart was that it would actually cause Pharoah to say, “No, I won’t let the people go”. Pharoah’s refusal thereby gave this god the chance to inflict pain and agony and suffering and death, not just to Pharoah, but to all of the Egyptians. Make sense?

Here are the various plagues inflicted.

Water turned to blood

Frogs

Lice

Flies

Livestock pestilence

Boils

Hail

Locusts

Darkness

Killing of the firstborn children


When a god decides it is time to show off his powers, pay attention. Pay attention to the manner in which he is doing it. How does he want to be known to humanity? What is he telling us through his actions?

Is he executing a mass blessing to the people so they recognize his power and his amazing love for us? Is he displaying beautiful, magnificent signs in the sky for all to see and marvel at? How about a supernatural sprinkling of gifts of jewels and precious oils and medicines to the people?

Any kind of mass supernatural occurrence where no one can deny his never-ending love for humanity would be great, right?

Well … First off, there is nothing in the old testament to suggest this god has a never-ending love for all of humanity. At one time, he even regretted making humans. But, as the story goes, he had picked his favorites – the Israelis.

When it’s time to show off his power, this god executed absolute horrors, so all would know of his power.

Telling, isn’t it?

Were you wondering how this god knew which houses had the boys that were to be killed and which ones ‘the destroyer’ was to pass over and leave alone because they were Jewish and not Egyptian? Well, he needed help.

Here is that interesting story.

The Blood Sacrifice

If you know anything about this god, you’ll know he demands blood sacrifice. He seems obsessed with it. The whole bible is full of references to blood and killing.

Blood sacrifice is a creepy concept. I’m not an atheist but I like the way atheist YouTuber Mindshift explains it, “You have done something wrong. Now go and kill something innocent.”

So for this event of the killing of the first born males, this god had limited insight. He needed help to figure out which houses had a first born male that should not be murdered – because were from the favored race – the Israelis.

The answer? Blood. Yes more blood, more killing. HE needed the favored people to kill an innocent lamb, collect it’s blood and smear it on the door posts of the Jewish homes to ‘protect’ the inhabitants inside and prevent “The Destroyer” from executing any kills in that home.

Gross? Yes! Of course it is.

Killing Of The First Born

If you’re a Christian reading this, I want to know how does this make you feel – that your god decided to show off his powers by murdering the first born men – whether they be babies or grown men.

Is it an admirable trait to use the power to perform acts of horror, abuse and mass murder? Or is it a trait that you do not like to think about or talk about? When you’re worshipping him, does the image of the destroyer killing babies in Egypt come to mind?

Or do you put that out of your mind, preferring not to dwell on that trait?

Or do you just not question it out of fear of god? I understand! I know that feeling.


Please read about how The God Who Loves You Immensely Also Wants You Deathly Afraid Of Him

Honestly, in what world does killing babies seem like a reasonable form of justice?

See it for what it is, not for what you want it to be