The Bible seems to contradict itself—not in the negative sense—and it reveals something crucial.

This isn’t a translation issue or an unsolvable mystery. It’s a clue—one that reveals how humanity’s understanding of God evolved over time.

And here’s the real game-changer: Jesus came to set the record straight.

Recognizing how revelation unfolds in Scripture doesn't mean questioning its authority—it’s taking Scripture seriously. And contradictions don't mean error—they're an invitation into deeper understanding with Him.

If we don’t interpret Scripture through Him, we risk believing things about God that He never said, never did, and never intended.

Once you see this, you can’t unsee it.

Example 1. David’s Census

If you know David’s story, you’ll remember when he counted his army and faced the consequences.

But...

Did you know the Bible tells the story two different ways—one says God caused it, the other says Satan did?

Take a look...

• 2 Samuel 24:1
  "The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He incited David against them, saying, 'Go, take a census.'"

• 1 Chronicles 21:1
  "Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census."

Do you see it?

Exact same event, but told in two different ways. So which is it? Who caused David to sin? God or Satan?

What's Happening Here?

In early Jewish thought, God was seen as the ultimate authority over all things, both good and bad. They didn't yet have a clear understanding of Satan's role as the adversary.

Instead, everything that happened, whether blessings or calamities, was simply seen as all coming from God.

Over time, Jewish thought evolved, and there was a clearer distinction made between God's actions and the actions of Satan. This is why 1 Chronicles correctly attributes the cause to Satan—not God.

1 Chronicles was written 500 years after 2 Samuel, and Jewish thought had developed a clearer understanding of Satan’s role in the world by then.

Then, by the time Jesus arrived on the scene, Satan was clearly identified and confirmed as the source of death, destruction, and deception—not God.

David's Census is the clearest example where an event is first attributed to God but later corrected and attributed to Satan.

This shift reflects the evolving understanding of God's nature and Satan’s role in influencing human decisions. Richard Murray shares some of the more dense historical references for this.

Beware Not To Woe!

It's interesting that Jewish thought at the time often labelled the work of Satan as "the anger of the Lord."

This makes me wonder: how many other places in the Bible where we read "the anger of the Lord" might actually be referring to the work of Satan? And how much are we still attributing the work of Satan to God, today?

Isaiah warned of this when he declared a great "Woe!"

"Woe to you who call good, evil and evil, good." (Isaiah 5:20)

When we say that God is responsible for evil, sickness, child abuse, tsunamis, the LA fires, rape, etc or that He "allowed it" (which is saying the same thing), we are calling what is evil, good—and what is good, evil.

Woe!

James 1:13 says, “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone with evil.”

Example 2. Job’s Suffering

• Job 1:21 – "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

• Job 1:12 – "The Lord said to Satan, 'Everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.'"

Job believed that God was the one who took everything from him.

That’s why Job never mentions Satan—because he didn’t yet understand Satan’s existence or have a full understanding of God’s nature. Neither did he have the covenant, blood of Jesus and indwelling Holy Spirit like we do today.

However, the actual narrative reveals the truth: Satan was the one who caused Job’s suffering.

At the beginning of the book, after experiencing destruction caused by Satan—not God—Job says, "The Lord gives and takes away."

But by the end, God rebukes and corrects Him, and Job realizes his mistake and repents:

• "I spoke about things I did not understand." (Job 42:3)

• "I take back everything I said and sit in dust and ashes." (Job 42:6)

God also rebukes and corrects Job's three friends for misrepresenting Him (Job 42:7).

This tells us something crucial: Not everything spoken in the Book of Job reflects God’s true nature, nor is it meant for us to take as truth. Some statements capture human misunderstandings that God Himself rebukes.

We must be careful not to repeat those same misconceptions.

What Did God Actually Say?

When God said, "Everything he has is in your power," (Job 1:12), He was not handing Job over to Satan.

Why?

Because Satan was already the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and "the ruler of this age" (John 12:31). Job’s possessions were already in his domain—it wasn’t God giving Job to Satan. This is why Satan tempted Jesus with the "kingdoms of the world and their glory" (Matthew 4:8)—because they were already in his domain through Adam's fall.

Elihu’s Unrebuked Words

Interestingly, the only person in Job whom God does not rebuke is Elihu. And look at what Elihu says about God:

"He [God] is excellent in power, in judgment, and abundant justice. He does not afflict." (Job 37:23)

Some translations say, "He does not oppress" or "destroy us."

This makes it crystal clear: God was not the one afflicting, oppressing, or destroying Job. And no, God was not merely “allowing” Satan to do so—read more here.

By the time of Jesus, this truth became undeniable:

"The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)

The contrast is clear: Destruction comes from the enemy. Life and goodness come from God.

Related reading: Job Was Wrong—So Why Do We Still Believe It?

Example 3. Hardening Pharaoh’s Heart

• Exodus 4:21 – "But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go."

• Exodus 8:15 – "Pharaoh hardened his own heart."

At first glance, it seems like God was the one making Pharaoh stubborn. However, later passages clarify that Pharaoh was actually hardening his own heart.

In biblical language, when someone persistently rejects God, He allows them—by their own free will—to continue in their chosen path (Romans 1:24-28).

We know that God does not manipulate or micromanage human decisions. Instead, He calls, invites, and offers His way.

Even when we turn and walk away, He remains—patiently waiting, always ready to redeem, just like the Father in the story of the Prodigal Son.

Agape love does not force or coerce—it invites while honoring our free will choice.

Example 4. Evil Spirits

I touched on this here with the story of Abimelech.

• 1 Samuel 16:14 – "Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him."

• 1 Kings 22:22-23 – "By what means?" the Lord asked. "'I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,' he said."

In the early mindset, people saw everything as coming directly from God. However, as understanding grew—and ultimately, through Jesus—it became clear that deception and destruction are the works of the enemy, not God.

James 1:13 – "God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone with evil."

God does not hire evil as an assistant. Evil is always an enemy—never a partner in crime. It is impossible for God to collaborate with evil because He is holy, just, and good.

"God is light, and in Him there is no darkness." (1 John 1:5)

Jesus: The Full Revelation of God’s Nature

By the time Jesus came, He completely exposed Satan as the source of evil and clarified that God's heart is only for life, healing, and restoration.

• "I did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them." (Luke 9:56)

• "When you have seen Me, you have seen the Father." (John 14:9)

• "The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)

Jesus is the full revelation of who God is (Hebrews 1:3).

Any interpretation of Scripture that contradicts His life and teachings needs to be re-examined through His lens.

What Incomplete Understandings Can Tell Us

Recognizing how revelation unfolds in Scripture doesn't mean questioning its authority—it’s taking Scripture seriously.

These incomplete understandings and misunderstandings of humans can help us to see that truth was revealed progressively, that God meets us where we are, and that He leads humanity into greater revelation over time.

Here’s why:

1. God Meets People Where They Are

Throughout history, God has communicated with humanity in ways they could understand at the time. In the Old Testament, the Israelites had a limited understanding of spiritual realities, especially regarding Satan. Many ancient cultures attributed both good and evil to their gods, and Israel often viewed everything—including disasters and consequences—as directly from God.

2. Progressive Revelation

Scripture shows a gradual unveiling of truth. What was once attributed to God (because they didn't yet grasp the role of Satan) becomes clearer as God reveals more about the unseen spiritual world. By the time of Jesus, the distinction is made clear—Satan is the one who steals, kills, and destroys, while Jesus comes to bring life (John 10:10).

"The total number of times Satan is mentioned in the Old Testament is 19 times, 14 of which are in the book of Job. The New Testament mentions Satan (or his devils) nearly 200 times, despite the fact that it is five times shorter than the Old Testament in length. Only three Old Testament writers ever even mention Satan, and that only briefly. Every New Testament writer mentions Satan. Amazingly, Moses, David, Abraham and Solomon never mentioned Satan at all. Never." – God vs Evil by Richard Murray, pg 68.

For further study on this progression:

• John H. Walton, "Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament"
• Michael Heiser, "The Unseen Realm"
• Mark S. Smith, "The Origins of Biblical Monotheism"

3. Jesus as the Full Revelation

The ultimate purpose of Scripture is to point to Jesus, who perfectly reveals God's nature (Hebrews 1:3). The misunderstandings and incomplete perspectives in earlier scriptures serve as a contrast, helping us appreciate the clarity Jesus brings. He corrects false views of God, showing that the Father is always good, always loving, and never the author of evil.

4. For Our Learning and Growth

These tensions in Scripture cause us (hopefully!) to seek Him for wisdom and revelation (Proverbs 25:2). Similar to how Jesus spoke in parables—so that we would seek Him for the deeper understanding.

This is a relationship, not just about gathering information.

By seeing how understanding evolved from the Old Testament to Jesus, we grow in discernment and learn to interpret Scripture with and through Christ. Tensions and seeming contradictions in scripture do not nullify it—they're an invitation to a conversation with Him.

5. To Expose the Human Condition

The Bible isn’t just a book of divine dictation—it records human experiences, thoughts, and even misunderstandings. Seeing how people fell into idols, forsook wisdom, misattributed things to God, etc, reminds us how easily we can do the same today. It warns us to interpret God’s nature through Jesus, not through the lens of human suffering or misinterpretation.

Why This Conversation Matters Today

Many still blame God for death and destruction, just as Job did before his understanding grew. But Jesus settled this once and for all:

• God is not in partnership with Satan.

• God does not "allow" evil as if He permits it—He actively opposes it.

• If we want to know what God is like, we look at Jesus.

Rather than seeing these incomplete understandings as errors, we can see them as stepping stones—God patiently guiding His people toward the full truth revealed in Christ.

A major reason people still blame God for death and destruction today is that they haven't fully understood Jesus or read Scripture through Him.

It’s even harder when Old Testament writers, like in 2 Samuel, Job, etc had a limited understanding of Satan and wrongly attributed his evil to God.

This is why we are to read scripture with and through the Spirit of Truth.

The Letter vs The Spirit

"The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:6)

When we view Scripture through the Holy Spirit and the revelation of Jesus, it brings life.

But without Him, we end up with theology that "kills”—that misrepresents God and keeps people in bondage.

“Some people read their Bibles in Hebrew, some in Greek; I like to read mine in the Holy Ghost.” — Smith Wigglesworth

If knowing the Father was simply about knowing the Scriptures intellectually, the Pharisees would have been the best of the best.

Yet Jesus rebuked them in John 5:39-40 saying:

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life."

People who knew the letter and Scriptures more than anybody completely missed the Son of Man when He stood in their midst.

They had the letter but missed the Spirit—which is Christ Himself.

Luke 24:45 says, "Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures."

Did you catch that?

The disciples needed Jesus to open their minds to understand the Scriptures—and so do we. We cannot understand them on our own.

It’s not enough to simply know the letter and Scriptures. We need the Spirit of Truth to illuminate them, because only He can bring revelation and life.

You Say But I Say!

This is why Jesus often said, “You have heard it said, but I say…”

What was He doing? He was bringing life to the letter.

At times, He reinterpreted it completely. For example:

• “You have heard it said, ‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, turn the other cheek.” (Matthew 5:39)

He wasn’t just repeating the letter—He was bringing deeper meaning and thus life.

Other times, He expanded on the letter:

• “You have heard it said, ‘Do not murder.’ But I say, do not even be angry.” (Matthew 5:21)

Here He is expanding on the letter to give deeper meaning and life.

And then, there were moments when He transcended the letter entirely. When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Him, her accusers quoted the letter correctly—she should be stoned.

But instead of arguing or explaining, Jesus simply said:

• “Let the one without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8:7)

In that moment, He didn’t just apply the letter, He revealed a higher truth—one that brought mercy and life.

This is why only the Spirit of Truth, Jesus Himself, can reveal the fullness of God’s Word and nature to us.

As He said in Matthew 11:27, “No one knows the Father except the Son.”

Any Scripture, even the New Testament, can "kill" if it is used apart from the Spirit—for example, when people weaponize Scripture to manipulate, condemn, or control others. But when read through the Spirit of Truth, it leads to life.

Think about this:

If we only read 2 Samuel 24:1, which says that God caused David to sin by taking the census, and never read 1 Chronicles 21:1, which correctly attributes the cause to Satan, we could end up going about life believing that God made David sin.

We might even fiercely defend that belief, convinced we’re right. But in doing so, we’d miss the deeper truth, and that misunderstanding would affect every part of our relationship with God—what we hear, what we share, and how we live.

Woe to us when we misrepresent God like this.

A.W Tozer once said: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

Jesus Defines God

Any theology that contradicts the life and teachings of Jesus needs to be re-examined through Him—the author and finisher of our Faith. He is the only One who can fully reveal the letter and nature of God to us. Anything in Scripture that seems to contradict His character and teachings must be understood in light of Him.

So the main purpose of the Bible is to point and lead us to Jesus, who fully reveals the Father (Hebrews 1:3). And when we come to Him, His Spirit of Truth opens the Scriptures to us in ways we’ve never seen before—just like what happened to the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

They said in Luke 24:32:

"Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?"

And for some of you, as you are reading this, your heart is burning within because you've always known deep down that your Father is a good Father, and God is a good God.

And that is the Spirit of Truth, Jesus, testifying within you.

The letter kills—like the Pharisees.

But the Spirit gives life—like your Good Father.

Final Words

So although places like 2 Samuel and Job reveal human misunderstandings, Jesus clears them up. He shows us that God is always good and never the cause of evil.

So when we read Scripture, we have two choices:

1. Interpret it with and through Christ.

2. Risk believing things about God that He never said, never did, and never intended.

Our greatest battle is not against darkness but against the lies we believe about the light.

Jesus is the lens through which we must see all of Scripture, because He is the only one who knows the Father (Matthew 11:27)

And when we do, it changes everything.

"It is only when we see God as He truly is that we begin to see everything else as it truly is." – C.S. Lewis

God is better than we think. Our Challenge is believing it.