Many scriptures bother me. Here's one account that springs to mind:
In Judges chapter 19 some Benjamites in the city of Gibeah basically go "Sodom and Gomorrah" on this traveler who stays the night there, and spend the whole night gang raping his concubine to the point of killing her.
The dude is understandably pissed and so he decides to let all the tribes of Israel know what was done, which he proceeds to do in a very icky way (I'll let you read that one.)
To make a long story short the rest of Israel decides to make war on the tribe of Benjamin. Now, rather than acting presumptuously and making war on their brother without permission, they actually ask Yahweh for guidance:
Now the sons of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God and said, “Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?” Then the Lord said, “Judah shall go up first.” (Judges 20:18)
Now since the Almighty himself gave them battle instructions, you'd think that would mean he would, you know, lend them a helping hand....right?
Nope.
Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. 21 The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites. (Judges 20:19-21)
So God tells the tribe of Judah to lead the offensive....and leaves 'em hanging. 22,000 men dead. 22,000 families without husbands and fathers.
So what do the Israelites do? Well again, rather than "pushing ahead" and doing what they want, they again consult the matter with the big guy. "Uh hey Yahweh, are you sure about this?"
22 But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day. 23 rAnd the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord , “Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against them.” (Judges 20:22-23)
"Okay well there you have it: God himself gave us the green light...um...again!" Surely this god of love, this manly person of war, wouldn't leave us high and dry a second time?
24 So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who tdrew the sword. 26 Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to uBethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord .
A little puzzling hmmm? Now as the account goes on to show, they go up a third time and end up winning the battle. Still, the question arises: why did this supremely loving and just God knowingly send 40,000 men to their deaths? 40,000 sons, fathers, and husbands?
Oh, perhaps the Benjamites had iron chariots, and that's why he he couldn't help out the Israelites? In case you didn't know, iron chariots are God's one weakness:
The LORD was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had iron chariots. (Judges 1:19)
Ah, the things you can find in the Bible...
