Disturbed By Bible Stories

I am disturbed, very disturbed.

I have started reading the "Read With Me Bible" with my two younger boys every night. The illustration in the book is rich and colourful and the wordings simple and suitable for children between 4 and 8. We would read not more than one story every night and it's been more than a week now. We are reaching the end of Genesis, the first book of the bible.

Son No 3 is not really interested... he's actually quite lost with all the characters and sub-plots but that's not my concern. My concern is more on Son No 2's interpretation of the events as described in the first book of the old testament. Son No 2, by virtue of his being two years older, has developed more mature and independent thinking. Very often, while reading the "stories", he would express his indignance on God's actions:

1. Cain and Abel - why was God pleased with Abel but not with Cain? (This led to Cain killing Abel.)
2. Noah's Ark - ok, the people were sinful and disobedient but why was God so "bad" as to kill all of them (except Noah and those in the ark)?
3. The Tower of Babel - why did God change all their languages so that they will not understand each other? (He understood they were trying to build that tower to reach the sky - but could not fathom why God had to respond in this way.)
4. Abraham - why did God ask for the sacrifice? (Can't quite grasp the idea of "testing".)

The story of Esau and Jacob was no better. Favouritism was overtly displayed in Isaac and Rebekah's actions. How could Rebekah help Jacob deceive her husband and elder son?

We are now in the midst of the story of Joseph and the multi-colour coat. Last night, Son No 2 learnt a new word - jealousy. He could identify with the emotion immediately. In the story, the brothers were jealous of Joseph because their father favoured Joseph and gave him the multi-colour coat. Of the several plans that the brothers made to get rid of Joseph (killing him, throwing him into the well, selling him), they finally decided to sell Joseph to Egypt. Son No 2 had a different idea though and seemed to favour killing Joseph. I had to emphasize to him that Joseph was their brother and thus, they should not kill him. Tonight, we will continue the story and will talk about Joseph forgiving his brothers - I hope that Son No 2 will see true brotherly love there.

On the whole, I can see that Son No 2's image of God as the benevolent provider and protector is being challenged. That God is all-powerful, he is left with no doubt. I am just not sure how to proceed from here. Some of the stories in the Old Testament are not pretty, not to this age group.

I am more likely to abandon the attempt to read the Bible, at least not the sequential approach. If there are serious messages there to be delivered, I may not be the right person to do so. Or the children are too young to have such "bible study". A better approach might be to just cull stories that are inspiring to this age group, like Jesus Feeds 5,000 or Jesus Walks on Water.

And it's decided. That's how it is going to happen. I am glad that as I write, it helps to clear my mind. Nevertheless, all other advice is welcomed .... :)