A friend of mine wrote a thesis entitled, "The Wrath of the Lamb in the Book of Revelation." It's something to keep in mind: not much pacifism to be found.

Not a lot of grace displayed there, either, and a body count that makes the OT look like little more than a slap in the face.

If the OT is punctuated by violent acts of God, the NT is like a sleeping volcano that's going to erupt one day with unimaginable power and devastation.

(Oh, sorry: didn't give an answer for why.)

I don't know all or perhaps any of the reasons for the intensity of God's wrath, whether then or in the future, but I would guess it has to do with God's holiness and the death of Christ.

Even as Christians we tend to underestimate the horror and offense of Jesus' sacrifice, and we seem to be clueless about the totality of God's holiness.

And if we who believe treat such things as common (albeit unintentionally), how much more is the unsaved world guilty of great sin against Christ?

The Father's wrath over the trivialization and maltreatment of His Son will be terrible to see. Behaviors have consequences; we can choose to sin but we cannot choose the consequences. And the consequences will be determined not by our pallid standards, but by the unapproachable perfections of God.

I sure hope my pre-rap eschatology is correct: I don't think I want to witness what is to come at the End.

Some of what occurs in the OT I see as judgement. Just as Israel was judged often by invading forces, so was Canaan. In fact, those people were way, way worse. They even sacrificed children to Moloch.
Of course, then people say "what about the children?" I can't fully answer that. I can say that I believe that if they were under the "age of accountability", I would believe they went upwards, not downwards. And if they were over it, I imagine they had done a great many terrible things.

I would like to suggest that there may be more grace and patience on the part of God in the OT than has always been noticed. By the time Joshua is conquering Canaan it has been around 500 years since God first moved Abram. During that time the light of the living God has been in their midst. This God, unlike the gods of the Canaanites, is a God who actually does things and they certainly have their chances to see or at least hear the reports of this God and the things He does. Sadly, it seems that after almost 5 centuries most people in Canaan, like Pharoah, have chosen to harden their hearts.

I wonder too if we can't assume from the example of Jonah that God's message of repentance wasn't being delivered even in within the gates of the cities. It doesn't seem like too much of a stretch.

I suppose this follows Dr. Mike's answer.... Is there anything more violent than the crucifixion of the Son of God?

And for the peacefulness of God's people during NT times, is Pax Romana a sufficient answer?

Maybe not.... Today we have a hard time imagining a war in which we commit genocide as a just act in obedience to God. We tend to think that we don't need capital punishment and that we can reform people, or at least shape children's attitudes etc.

My own view, which I've discussed elsewhere, is essentially this: That none of us (or few of us, at least) would dispute God's justice in destroying the Canaanites if He'd done it through an earthquake or fire from Heaven.

I think the Hebrews of Joshua's time were comparable to earthquakes or fire from Heaven, in that they hadn't yet been taught some things about the value of all human life--not just that of one's own family or tribe.

I think God used the Hebrews for judgment at that time because they were still morally "innocent" (in a technical sense.) He would not command the same thing to those who have been taught by Christ, or even by the later prophets.

My theory is probably full of holes, but I find comfort in it.

Is there anything more violent than the crucifixion of the Son of God?

That is certainly the greatest crime ever committed. Jesus' response to the crime: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

It has always been my understanding that God was starting a "new creation". He wanted all that could contaminate his people with their corrupt religion and life style to be removed. I too wonder about the babies, but have counted on His goodness, as well as His justice in those things which I can not reconcile. If we could understand the Justice of God, then we would be like Him, and I wouldn't want that, not for a nano second.

I guess we can't answer this one with any finality. God is infinitely beyond our understanding. For me the same conflict holds true for Noah's story - God destroyed the whole earth because of her wickedness. Also holds true for Jesus' warnings on Hell, they are severe and can't be easily reconciled with the kindness and mercy He showed. We have to take both sides, mercy and judgement - God is not tame.