The God of the Old Testament: Love or Vengeance?

Book excerpt: Have you ever wondered why in the Old Testament God wiped out an entire population in a global flood except for one family? Or why, when giving the land of Canaan to the children of Israel, He commanded the destruction of the entire Canaanite nation? Does this sound to you like a loving God, or does He seem more like a vengeful tyrant or egomaniac, demanding service and worship? On the other hand, there’s the God of the New Testament—Jesus, the Messiah. He is loving and patient, caring and selfless—not at all like the God of the Old Testament, right? He even gave His life for the people He loves. So how do we reconcile this picture of God, as seen in the life of Jesus, with the picture of God in the Old Testament? Are there two different Gods? Or perhaps this shows two different sides of the same God—with the Old Testament displaying God’s justice and vengeance toward the sinner, while the New Testament shows His mercy and forgiveness. In this book, the author seeks to offer the reader an alternative perspective, one that is biblically and historically founded in recorded Old Testament events, revealing God’s unconditional love for His creation throughout the Old Testament. As we explore Old Testament stories, it should become quite clear that the God of the Old Testament is just as loving, patient, and longsuffering—if not more so—as the God of the New Testament, Jesus Christ Himself! As you review the evidence contained herein, you may be surprised that you come to the same conclusion, understanding the consistent and amazing love of God throughout the history…and the future of humankind.