Wrestling with God: Understanding Difficult Old Testament Passages

When ancient texts feel strange, troubling, or impossible to reconcile, faithful reading begins with honest questions and careful attention.

The Old Testament can feel like a foreign land—full of strange names, unsettling violence, puzzling customs, and questions that you want to avoid. But what if wrestling with those hard passages is exactly where God meets you?

In this compelling guide, renowned biblical scholars R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann refuse to sidestep the difficult texts. Why did God command violence? How do we reconcile ancient customs with Christian ethics? What do we do with a God who seems to change His mind?

Features of Wrestling with God:

-       14 chapters centered around 14 common questions

-       Discussion questions at the end of each chapter

-       Written by two well-respected and decorated theologians

-       Maps, charts, and tables to help your understanding

Drawing on deep linguistic, cultural, and historical insight, Lessing and Steinmann equip readers to bridge the vast distance between the ancient world and today, revealing an Old Testament that doesn't contradict the Gospel but proclaims it.

Like Jacob at Peniel, those who refuse to let go will find their struggle transformed into blessing. The darkness yields to light. The strange land becomes holy ground.

Praise for Wrestling with God

Readers of the Old Testament are well aware that it contains many puzzling and even disturbing passages. In this volume, Lessing and Steinmann, two seasoned interpreters of the Old Testament, join forces to “wrestle with” some of the most difficult passages. Their thoughtful and reasonable responses to tough questions, including those posed by the violence depicted in the Old Testament and by its portrait of an angry and vengeful God, deserve careful consideration.

—Robert B. Chisholm Jr., chair and senior professor of Old Testament studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

For most Christians, outside of a few familiar places, the Old Testament is a strange, intimidating land into which they dare not venture. Lessing and Steinmann serve as guides to this strange land that makes up three-quarters of the Bible. Their magnificent comprehensive treatment addresses every major misconception of the Old Testament in a way that is easy to understand. Even more helpful are the discussion questions at the end of each chapter, which allow the reader to deepen his or her understanding of the Old Testament and develop a fuller appreciation for God’s Word.

—Rev. Dr. Ryan M. Tietz, associate professor of exegetical theology, Old Testament, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne

Wrestling with God clearly comes from pastors who love teaching Bible studies. Rather than dodging the hard questions, this book takes them head-on! With clarity and conviction, Lessing and Steinmann offer us a delightful guide into the murkier parts of the Old Testament. Under the guise of addressing difficult passages, they sneak in a ton of biblical theology—teaching us who God is for us as our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier—all through the prophetic witness of the Old Testament. 

—Rev. Dr. Geoffrey R. Boyle, assistant professor of pastoral ministry and missions, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne