re: In case you missed it (like I did), archaeologists discovered ancient city of Sodom

That the Bible appears to be contradictory is true. Across millenia there are seemingly confusing accounts of odd rules of behavior. What can be more confusing than Sarah lending her maid servant (Hagar) to her husband Abraham for the purpose of producing a male heir. A male heir she herself could not provide. Is that technically adultery? Then Sarah, in a jealousy induced rage, demands Abraham expell Hagar and her child (Ishmael) in the desert? Dang, imagine Abraham trying to separate two women right in the middle of a cat fight!

End of story, right? So what does God do? He's goes looking for Hagar and her baby in the desert, and saves them. Researching the customs, norms, and structure of the time, we learn that culturally, and from a hierarchical perspective a male heir was very important. But it's still confusing. Like did Hagar allow Sarah to change Ishmael's diaper occassionally? God writes straight with crooked lines. He's God, He can do that.

So we're left to scratch our heads reflecting on God's seemingly contradictory action. But when you reflect on the Words of God as pronounced through the mouth of his Son Jesus Christ it all makes sense, does it? God loves - that's it. He loves Muslims, Christians, Jews, heretics, schismatics, children of single Moms, fatherless children, everyone. He loved us enough to give us clear laws governing rules of behavior. I mean it makes sense that the God who created us, would understand what makes us supremely happy, right? The point of my argument here. God's laws are not designed to burden us, constrain us, or limit us, but to free us. And get this He wrote His laws with His own hand on the side of a mountain on two tablets of stone. Tablets of Stone the Hebrews carried around in a gold box in the desert for forty years. But I digress.

Search through the pages of Biblical history (yes, the Bible is a historical book), or look through the ruins of Sodom & Gomorrah (I presume that's still going on) to ascertain the penalty for willful neglect and outright rejection of his laws and you will learn we worship a God of Mercy, and Justice. Actions have consequences, and really bad actions have catastrophic consequences. A word of caution to those who attempt to paint God as an indulgent Father who sets no boundries.

God (Jesus) died for all mankind. His death on the Cross came about because of the betrayal of a few in the Sanhedrin and the betrayal of one Apostle. That He died for all men (Jew and Gentile) was the cause of considerable friction between the Apostle Peter and Saul of Tarsus (Paul) in the early Church.

I mean why didn't God just make legions of Angels appear in that Garden when they came to arrest Him? When the Temple Guards appeared in the dark to arrest Jesus they said,"We seek Jesus of Nazareth". Jesus answered,"I AM". In that Jesus answered with that he repeated the answer Yahweh gave Moses when he asked God,"Who shall I tell them sent me?" God answers,"I AM THAT I AM send you". He didn't tell Moses - wait up, let'me grab my smartphone and I'll accompany you down this mountain, eh?

God is Mercy. God is Compassion. God is Love. God is Justice.