Understanding the God of Israel
We read in the Bible that God is “merciful and gracious, abundant in goodness and truth.” Exodus 34:6. He is “ready to forgive” and “delighteth in mercy.” Psalm 86:5, Micah 7:18. We see that Jesus is the “express image” of the Father, and if we have seen Jesus, we have seen the Father. Hebrews 1:3, John 14:9. We are told that Jesus “went about doing good”, and that these works were not His own but of the Father. Acts 10:38, John 14:10. We see Jesus forgiving and restoring sinners, healing all that were sick, and showing tender love for everyone regardless if they were a Jew, Roman, or considered “heathen.” Matthew 9:2, 4:23, 8:5-13, 15:21-28.
With such beautiful expressions describing the character of Jesus, and thus of the Father, it can be difficult to understand why such a God would ever order His people to stone another due to their sins. If Jesus Himself would not stone the woman caught in adultery, why would He ever command it to be done by Israel? Why was the law of Moses ever given? How could a loving God, Who gave His Son for the whole world order His people to kill and destroy other nations?
We must see all truth, each story, every single page of Scripture, through the light of Jesus. We must understand the character of God as it is revealed perfectly in Jesus, for:
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” John 1:18.
It is the purpose of these studies to reveal the harmony and consistency between the God of the Old Testament and of the New Testament. We pray that as you read and study deeply through these articles that you too will find God to be most lovely!