I am asked this question every now and then. Why does God in the Old Testament seem so differerent then in the New Testament? This was again asked this morning. This was my answer to him. Hope it helps.
This
is probably the hardest question for any person to understand but yet
is one of the most asked questions. At times I even ask myself this from
time to time. Both Ellen and Ben are right. 1. God chose to reveal
pieces of himself at his choosing. In Genesis with the fall, he chose to
give Adam and Eve grace by sacrificing an animal to give them clothes.
This was in spite of his earlier comment to them saying that "they would
surely die if they eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good
and evil."
I believe it was also grace and justice that came out when
God kicked them out of the Garden so they could not eat of the tree of
life. This was an act of protection. Since this time man/woman tried
everything in their power to connect with God. Through sacrifice and
worship unfortunately people decided to worship in a way that they
desired. It started with Cain and Abel. Cain was jealous because his
offering was not accepted. So he killed his brother and then lied about
it.
From here on humanity went down hill. Cutting themselves, murder of
children, worship with prostitutes, orgies. It was obviously not a God
ordained worship and sending prophets did not help. Even through his own
revelation people were not following his revelation. So he decided to
wipe out the earth in spite of his love for the people. He made a
promise to never destroy the earth again. Even after the flood it wasnt
long before people started living there own way. Selling a brother into
slavery led a nation into eventual slavery.
But God keeps fighting for
his people. He sends a murderer (Moses) back to Egypt to fight for them,
with eventually getting them freed. God then gives them the law. This
is the first time where this comes into a written form. The 10
commandments all have to do with relationship. Love God, Love Others.
When this is obeyed it is a different world that we are able to live in.
However it was not long before the Jewish people disobeyed the number
one command with the building a golden calf. God still continues to give
grace to his people.
He gives them a new leader in Joshua as they now
enter the promised land that he promised long ago to Abraham. However
there were people already living there. In getting their land back there
were a lot of battles fought. This is where it gets tricky. People
think this is where the wrath of God comes out and takes anyone and
everyone out. But even in all these battles God offers each nation a way
out. The Gibeonites in Joshua 9 trick the Jewish people into signing a
treaty with them. They will now follow the God of the Jewish people. I
think if every nation did this God would have allowed them to live as
well. Now the Israelites are Israelites again. They make mistake after
mistake. They want to worship things they can see, rather than
worshiping the God who created them. Asking for a human king, instead of
allowing God to govern (1 Samuel 8.) Following their own desire instead
of God's desire (King David w/ Bathsheba).
Even through all these
mistakes there is grace and forgiveness, but also justice. A lot of the
punishment seems to be earthly in the OT. (David losing his child from
the affair) God uses prophets to keep the downward slide of his people.
Then Jesus is born into the world. He was and always was, but now he is
flesh and revealing a new Gospel. At least a new gospel to the people.
It had always been there for them but they were never willing to accept
the God of grace in the OT. But now grace is their incarnate in the
flesh. He came to reveal it because no one else was able to get it.
Because to be honest it was tough to get. People would have to listen
and look for God's revelation before.
But now He was there with them.
They could witness his grace through His miracles. They could witness
His love through his care for the children. They could witness his
wisdom with turning questions of the spiritual leaders into these
profound thoughts and questions back to them. (Let he who has not sinned
cast the first stone, For a time is coming when we will worship in
spirit and in truth, what is more important on Sabbath than to give
mercy and truth?)
They could not witness his willingness to be a
servant in which he was willing to wash feet. They could not witness his
sacrifice in which he laid down his life. They could not witness his
power as he defeated death. People have to be witnesses. They want
proof. 500 people witnessed Jesus after he rose again. These witnesses
died and were Martyred for spreading the Gospel of Christ. They would
surely not die for Christ if they were making this stuff up. Today God
continues to reveal himself to his people through the Holy Spirit. We
are still learning about justice, grace, love and forgiveness. We are
trying to live out the example that he first showed us in the OT with
the 10 Commandments of Loving God and Neighbor. God has never changed
but he has always given us new revelations to show himself to his
people.
