It's impossible to reconciled the sugary-sweet Christ surrounded by children and lambs we see today with the same God who rained fire or flooded the world on a disobedient people as described in the Old Testament.
God encompasses all of these things (even that which is mischaracterized as sugary-sweetness).
He is fierce ... and He is tender.
He is the Lion of Judah ... and the Lamb which takes away the sins of the world.
He does call children unto Him ... and speaks of Himself as being meek and lowly.Mark 10:13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
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Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I highlight God's wrath and judgment to our Orthodox and Catholics friends because they do not believe in the blood atonement of Christ. I also highlight it to many Protestants who are stuck in this mental concept of a God who loves everyone and is ready to shower us with gifts like some cosmic Santa. A careful reading of the Old Testament does not portray God like this at all. And the God of the Old Testament is the same as the one of the New.
Unless a person understand God's election and His drawing out of His people, the Old Testament will remain a bunch of moralistic stories.