There are many stories, claims, and instructions that are confusing, concerning, or even both. From the lifespans of ancient humans to violence against innocents, any honest reading of the text will expose these to the reader. In writing this book, Pastor Kimball desires that we may gain some tools and techniques for addressing these troubling texts without resigning ourselves to uncritical acceptance or rejection.

In these chapters, Pastor Dan Kimball, acknowledges the confusing and problematic statements and stories within the Bible. He argues that how we approach and understand the Bible as a whole can either help or hinder us when we encounter these passages.

Rules. There’s no getting away from them. Every family, organization, and society have them. To the outsider these may seem strange and unnecessary, yet they serve or served a purpose for them. In the section, Pastor Dan Kimball, argues that sometimes the rule isn’t really about the rule. It’s about identity.

The number of instances of the abuse, marginalization, and objectification (treatment as property) of women is both horrific and alarming. It should give us pause when we read these texts. Bathsheba was not an equal participant in the infidelity, but the object of the King’s desire. Esther’s story is not one of romance, but of human trafficking and abuse.

The former slaves of Egypt have been liberated and now find themselves in the wilderness. Where there is opportunity there is also uncertainty including a crisis of identity. “Who are we apart from Egypt?”

Christianity is generally seen as a monotheistic religion. In this section, Pastor Dan Kimball, argues that this is not unprecedented in human history nor exclusive to Christianity or monotheistic religions.

Dan Kimball suggests that should we do the difficult work to make sense of these violent stories that we will have more satisfactory answers even if we don’t have all the answers.

As Pastor Dan Kimball closed out this book, he described his desires for us a reader. One key desire is that whether or not we agree with his conclusions about the difficult subjects we would not throw the Bible aside too quickly.