An “Old Testament God”? ~ Bible Study blog for September 23

Thus far, the Old Testament has painted a picture of a God who is almighty, holy, wrathful.  God has repeatedly poured out judgment upon his own people in the form of plagues, venomous snakes, and sinkholes swallowing vast throngs of people.  God has enacted judgment upon people for offenses as minor as touching the Ark of the Covenant.  God even punishes Moses for striking a rock twice when God told him simply to speak to it, that it would yield the water the people need. 

But as we move into the New Testament, we see a picture of God painted in the person of Jesus Christ—whom most would agree embodies the Old Testament image of God as “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.”

However, the image of a wrathful God carries into the New Testament, particularly in Jesus’ teachings about “the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  It is not difficult to be terrorized by God and question whether or not we are saved.  We’re taught that we’re saved by grace—but the Bible repeatedly tells us that we’ll be judged by our works.

Taking it all together, it can be nearly impossible to love the Old Testament God—and quite impossible not to be terrorized of this God.

God is holy, mighty, and immortal.  We’re weak, sinful, and mortal.  We know that no amount of good works can bring us to a level of holiness equal to God.  It leaves us all feeling very vulnerable.  But we are not faced with a hopeless situation.  Therefore, if there is to be any hope of salvation, that salvation must come from God.  It is precisely at this point that God will be “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.”  God’s grace pours down like rain upon human beings who need divine grace and forgiveness—and know it full well.  The Law leaves us all as beggars before God—and God does not desert us in our place of desperate need.

Therefore, as we continue our journey through the Old Testament, let us be on the lookout for actions of divine grace—because these will not be rare.  God’s goodness is never given as a prize for human goodness.  It is God who is good and gracious—and if there is to be any goodness or righteousness in any of us, it can only come from God.

Make no mistake—we will see actions of Judgment and wrath.  But God’s judgment sets the stage for grace.  Evil must be eradicated for grace and goodness to abound. 

It will appear tremendously unfair that some people will get away with repeated severe offenses, while others are put to death for honest mistakes (like accidentally touching the Ark of the Covenant).  Yet we can know only the beginnings of God’s graciousness.  One lifetime—and one Bible—are wholly insufficient for us to receive a full revelation of God’s grace.  We won’t always be able to explain the ways God is being graciousness, but we can take it as a promise that mercy triumphs over judgment. 

Jesus says, “blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.”    When we are poor in holiness and righteousness, God will not leave us to perish.