No, the Bible clearly calls for stoning sinners. Don’t you see the similarity of this question to the religious leaders bringing the adulteress to Jesus, and asking him if she should be stoned?!
What was it Jesus said, I don’t have the exact quote, but he did tell us that what happened to him, would happen to those that followed him! Wow, this is a clear proof that his words are true.
Was God harsh? Yes. He tells us clearly to fear Him!
But, think about why this happened in the old Testament, and why we do not do these things now. In the old Testament, there was no possibility of regenerate souls. People lost in sin, were not going to change in this life. They couldn’t, because Jesus Christ had not risen from the dead. Regeneration was not possible yet, so God ordered that the wickedness be wiped out; like cutting out cancer.It was the only way at the time.
We do not do this now, because the Holy Spirit is alive in the world and made avalible to everyone through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Now, where there is life, there is hope of salvation, from our old sinful nature. Through Jesus Christ our heart and souls can be made new again. Washed clean by the blood of Christ, and made into a new person!
I have to tell you something exciting for me. I have been praying about this question for some time now. James 1:5 tells us that God will give us wisdom that we lack, so I knew I would have an answer to this question of harsh killing in the Old Testament. Honestly, this bothered me greatly. I have a daughter who is a mentally ill drug addict. She does many vile things. Every manner of sin described in the Book! The old Testament would have me take her into the street and stone her myself! I just could not reconsile this in my heart, with a Loving God, who had forgiven so much in me.
I didn’t know the answer until I started to type this, right now!
Also, in the OT times, there were populations that were entirely wicked. God ordered their destruction to keep the Jewish bloodlines separate in order that Christ could be born.
God did not destroy a society until it was thoroughly evil and beyond hope. Remember the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 more years in part because of their sin, but also because the wickedness in the lands they were to conquer was not complete yet
God states he takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked, but wants all to be saved.