Some people say that the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are two different gods. But in reality, the difference in God’s behavior is due to the distinct purposes of each of the testaments. The Old Testament was written to show who God is and why we need a Savior, while the New Testament introduces us to our Savior.
In the beginning pages of the Old Testament, God lays the foundation for the origin of sin. In the Garden, man’s relationship with God was broken when Adam and Eve chose to disobey Him. At that moment, sin was introduced into the world. The need for a Savior was birthed. The Bible says, “Through one man [Adam], sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Rom. 5:12). When Adam sinned, he not only condemned himself to death but He also condemned mankind. The Bible is not talking about physical death but spiritual death which is separation from God for all eternity after physical death. The stories of the Old Testament give warning to this judgment.
In the first eleven chapters of Genesis, God is showing us that man is unable on his own to mend the relationship with Him because of man’s sinful nature. Man’s wickedness became so rampant after leaving the Garden that we read in Genesis 6-9 God destroyed all the people on the earth by a flood, except for Noah and his family. God is showing His wrath because He wants us to see that judgment for sin is death. There are no gray areas. These people had been given the opportunity to turn to God but chose to reject Him. But even after the flood, man continued to sin.
Through the early stories of the Bible, God showed over and over that man was not capable of restoring his relationship with Him. So, God chose one man, Abraham, that from Him all the world would have the opportunity to come back into relationship with Him (Gen. 12:1-3). From Abraham would come the nation of Israel that would be God’s people. It’s important to understand that they were full of sin, but God knew that through this people He could bring about His plan of salvation. They would not only show who God is but from their descendants would come the Savior of the world. But with this tremendous blessing would come responsibility. The story of the Israelites is not always easy to read. They were expected to obey God or suffer His judgment.
One of the most unsettling Old Testament stories where God shows His wrath is when Korah, Dathan, and Abraim led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron (Num. 16). The rebels demanded that Moses and Aaron not be the only messengers of God. Their main contention was that they did not agree that Aaron’s family should be singled out as the only line allowed in the priestly order. They chose not to accept God’s plan, and God chose to immediately act on their rebellion. The next morning the LORD called for all the men of the rebellion, along with Aaron, to bring their censors, put fire in them, and lay incense on them before the Lord. After Moses spoke warning to the people, God showed who was holy by having the earth open up and swallow the clans of Korah, Dathan, and Abraim and all their followers, including their whole household. This included their women and children and all their belongings. Then all the men holding censors were taken out by fire, except for Aaron.
It is understandable why this story would be unsettling. As the earth opens up, you cannot help but visualize all those children and innocent babies being swallowed up right along with the wicked. It’s disturbing because it shows judgment is far reaching. So why did the young have to die? The first truth to recognize is that God is just (Ps. 25:8). He knew that future generations of these clans would continue to rebel and cause further problems for the nation of Israel. So, He chose to judge them at that moment to remove them from the congregation and remind the nation of the penalty of sin. Do not forget that Israel had made a covenant with God. They knew His expectations. They had been given the Laws to live by at Mount Sinai (Ex. 20). They were warned of the consequences for disobedience. God included this story in the Bible to show us that disobedience is paid with the ultimate price. It’s a story that points to our need for a Savior.
In the Old Testament, the Savior had not come. The gift of salvation had not been paid. Therefore, there was no permanent forgiveness of sin. The sacrificial system that God put in place had to be used to cover sin temporarily until a Savior could be pay the price. Therefore, when man chose to rebel against the Law, including the sacrificial law, the only way left to pay for sin was by their own death and separation from God. No wonder God in the Old Testament is described many times as harsh. But in reality, He is pouring out His love by warning us what the payment for sin is and our need a Savior.
In the New Testament, God’s message is Jesus, our Savior. He introduces Him in the Gospels by showing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Through His Son’s death on the cross, God is presenting to us the gift of salvation. We no longer have to fear judgment. If we accept that Jesus paid our penalty for sin, then we no longer have to fear God’s wrath. His death was not only a payment for our sins, but for the sins of all the people who have lived before us and who will live after us if they accept His provision. With the gift of salvation presented, most of the remainder of the New Testament tells us how to live a life according to Christ. Therefore, in most of the books of the New Testament, God is not showing His wrath as much as He is showing His love.
But the New Testament is not without God’s wrath. The final book of the Bible is the book of Revelation. It is a book of prophecy that shows God’s ultimate judgment. When the end of time comes, Satan and all His followers will be thrown into the lake of fire for their disobedience where “they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Rev. 20:10). God never intended for this pit to hold human life, but God had no other place for non-believers to go because the lake of fire is the only place that God does not exist (Rev. 20:15). So, on the final day of judgment those who did not choose Jesus as Savior will be judged by the Law. Since all have sinned, no one will be redeemed by their own actions. Because of this, they will face death—separation from God. The Bible says they will be thrown into the lake of fire with Satan and His followers where they will spend eternity (Rev. 20:11-15).
The more you read the Bible the more you will see that the God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament. The message of the Bible is the same from beginning to ending. The Bible is calling you and me back into relationship with our Creator. God doesn’t need us, but He wants us. He wants us to know Him, but He demands obedience. You know why? Because He loves you, and He wants all people to be saved. God showed His wrath in the Old Testament where we would understand and accept His love in the New Testament.