I have been struck, more than one time during my present study of the Old Testament books, by how God's commands to the Israelites are often aggressive toward those who stand in the way of His intentions for His people.
As I read the language and attitude toward these "others", it's easy for me to understand how racists, who hold up their Christianity while being so...well, RACIST, could misinterpret God's ultimate attitude. Without moving past the Old Testament into the New Testament, one remains ignorant to the "rest of the story" where God's wrath and vengeance is turned to unconditional love through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ.
