I have read both the Old and New Testaments. I need help in understanding why the God of the Old Testament is so controlling and vengeful and the God of the New Testament is so forgiving and loving. This very confusing to me.
I am a Christian and I was Baptised last year at age of 81. I attend a Evangelical Church on a regular basis.
“I need help in understanding why the God of the Old Testament is so controlling and vengeful and the God of the New Testament is so forgiving and loving. This very confusing to me.”
It is confusing. It has been suggested the vengefullness may have been during a purge of nephelim that the flood may not have killed. The different aspect of God could be explained as the Mosaic law was impossible to keep. Thus man could not attain the glory of God through deeds or actions. With Christ came a new covenant (deal) with God in which faith was required rather than various animal sacrifices. That is a simplification, but one that made some sence to me.
I have read both the Old and New Testaments. I need help in understanding why the God of the Old Testament is so controlling and vengeful and the God of the New Testament is so forgiving and loving.
1) They are the same God.
2) Personally, I see the most loving caring God in the OT. Keep Reading.
3) Controlling and vengeful? Substitute Almighty and Holy. See that in the Book of Revelation.
4) Notice the words you use. We want to define God on our terms, Not let God tell us who He is. When you say or hear the words “God to me....................” you are on the wrong path.
5) Everyone likes a loving merciful God. God MUST be Holy, Righteous, sovereign, etc. He is merciful at his pleasure. You can only understand his mercy and love when you begin to understand his Holiness.
6) The fact that you asked, says God is at work. I remember the journey...........................
I understand what you are saying.
I've read the OT and it seems that way too and yet with further reading, you see God warning people time and again for long periods of time to repent and turn to Him.
He doesn't just zap people with no warning. He doesn't want to judge, would rather have mercy, and pleads and implores with people to change their ways.
Sadly they don't and then they reach the point of no return. God brings the judgment He warned about and people are shocked that He'd do it.
Well, He said He would if they didn't change their ways.
And then they are surprised when He actually acts on it?
Exodus 34:6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
2 Chronicles 30:9 For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”
Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.
Nehemiah 9:31 Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Psalm 103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 111:4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
Psalm 112:4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
Psalm 116:5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.
Psalm 145:8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Joel 2:1 2-13 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
Jonah 4:2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
On reflection, I am still on the journey, I remember the early paths.
What if God said to you, “I have always loved you”.
Well he did. Is He telling the truth or are those just words for the moment? Do you believe Him? How do you feel or think on hearing those words? What image is in your mind? How do you respond to that statement?
Well, amazingly, God declared his love in the OT. Read it in context and get back to me. Malichi 1:2
Note the response to God’s declaration of love...........
I’ve seen the case made that it’s the opposite.
It’s Jesus who talks about Hell. And the judgements in Revelations are far worse than anything in the Old Testament.
In some cases, God appears to be teaching important principles in the Old Testament and uses severe repercussions to drive home the lesson get His point across.