See I don't understand this. Christians/Jews/ (and maybe) Muslims know this story very well. But it is showing God as a mass murderer.

How can they still consider God as a perfect moral being?

I mean this is just one of the many passages of this nature. Check out www.skepticsannotatedbible.com

In order for them to retain the concept of God as being an all powerful, benevolent being, would they have to reject the religous text on which their faith is based on?

Quote Originally Posted by demotivater
God is a vengeful god, after all.