Doesn the old testament picture an angry, vengeful God and the New testament a loving one?
Many people say that in the OT we have an angry vengeful God; while in the NT we have a loving God, especially in the person of Jesus Christ. An open reading of the entire Bible, however, yields one God who is holy, just and righteous and who loves His people with an everlasting love. Consider the following: (1) If you have the idea that the God of the OT was angry and vengeful in a capricious sort of way, especially during the wilderness journey after the Exodus, simply read through the books of Exodus and Numbers. There you will find a God of righteousness and justice to be sure, but also of great mercy and patience; and you will find yourself saying repeatedly, “If I were in control I’d have wiped out the people a long time ago, rather than simply punishing them. And I certainly would not have come back to them again and again in grace and mercy like God did.” (2) Next, read Psalm 106, which is a summary of this period of wilderness wandering and disobedience in the Promised Land. I
