| MONDAY | March 30 |
The Old Testament God—A God of Love
It is often said that God’s love is clearly manifested only in the New Testament, while the “Old Testament God” is a God of justice and wrath. But careful study of the entire Bible shows that God does not have such a split personality. Though God’s love was manifested in the fullest measure in Christ (as portrayed in the New Testament), the God of Old Testament times is just as much a God of supreme love. God does not change (James 1:17). He does not gradually evolve from a God of wrath or a God of justice into a God of love. God’s love is eternal. The words to His Old Testament people apply to all times: “ ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love’ ” (Jer. 31:3, NIV).
Take a look at a few important evidences of God’s love in Old Testament times as listed below, and add a few other clear evidences of His love found elsewhere in the Old Testament.
- God’s love in creation (Gen. 1:26–31, 2:21–25).
- Providing a solution for the sin problem (Gen. 3:15, 22:8, Isaiah 53).
- The gift of the Sabbath (Exod. 31:12–17).
- The continuous gift of prophecy (Amos 3:7).
There are stories and statements in the Old Testament that are, at least on the surface, difficult to understand. It is true that we read about bloodshed and war. But never forget that God is consistently portrayed as the covenant God, who draws people to Himself and does not forsake them, in spite of the fact that they turn their backs on Him time and again.
| What do you answer when confronted with questions about war and bloodshed in the Old Testament? How do you reconcile the divine commands to eliminate entire nations (for instance, Israel taking possession of the land of Canaan) with the concept of a God of love? |
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