Hopefully Andy reads this because it's inspired by him by his question to me on another thread.
A frequent accusation against the bible is that God is a God of wrath in the OT and of love in the NT.
The OT contains many stories of God's judgment and wrath. Bible accusers claim this demonstrates a primitive, warlike God in contradiction to a loving Savior that Christ depicts. Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek afterall.
While they seem to be in conflict, reflection will show otherwise. Jesus said himself that the OT could be summed up by the first two commandments, to love God and to love your neighbor. It's the same in the NT. He also declared that God in the OT was a God of mercy and love rather than sacrifice, Matt 9:13, 12:7.
You can see this attitude in scripture in the OT such as Ezek 18:23..."Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked......and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?"
God is a God of justice and the wickedness of certain nations could not go unchecked and condoned. Therefore he did call for destruction of certain nations.
God is a God of justice and of second chances. We see many times that he is very patient. His desire is not to punish them , but he is consistent with His holy nature and jealousy for his people.
Examples would be the Amorites. God gave them hundreds of years to repent but they did not, Gen 15:16. Noah preached 120 years before the flood yet they laughed and scoffed. Christ said the same would be the case before he returned. IWhat are we seeing?
The correct OT picture of God is one of a very patient God who gives people many opportunities to come to him and turn from their ways. Only when they continually refuse does he judge and punish them for their wicked deeds.
Many would be surprised to find out the strongest statements of judgment come from Jesus himself. In Matt 23 he lashed out at the religious leaders of his day calling them hypocrites and false leaders, and informing them their eternal destiny was eternal separation from God.....another way of saying hell.
He also said that his mission is not to unite but divide. "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword." He also says that families will turn against each other as a result of his word. Sound familiar?
Also Jesus himself spoke more about hell than he did heaven. Judgment as well as love is scattered thru the NT and we see mercy as well as judgment thru the OT. God doesn't change. His message is the same. When you read both testaments.....the way they were intended, you will see they reveal the same just God. He is rich in mercy, but will not let sin go unpunished.
The examples given by an atheist writer on the wrath of God to prove that this is not a God of love but hate shows his lack of understanding. Closer inspection of those verses does indeed show the wrath of God but for a reason. God did call for the execution of wicked people. He used others as instruments to carry out his judgment. Yes he did. This does not violate the commandment to not commit murder. To kill as in a war and to take vengeance yourself in the act of murder are two different things. The verse given in Ex 32:27 shows that Aaron was the most responsible for the worship of the golden calf but yet because of the mercy of God not only was he spared but later would be the first High Priest. Yes God called for their punishment and 3,000 Israelites died that day. But notice.....they were naked and worshipping a calf, an idol. This was a direct high-handed violation against God. Paul warned about this in 1 Cor 10:7. It's still revelant today.
Many of the examples given in the OT by this atheist show the raised, clenched fist in defiance against God's commands . Direct acts of rebellion. To God rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft. Who is the father of rebellion? Who rebelled first? In one verse cited by this atheist, Ex 20:5 no mention is made of the very next verse which states..... " and showing mercy to thousands of them that love me ......"
So basically I'm saying ........it's context, context, context. God is a God of Wrath and also a God of Love. He's called the Lion of Judah and the lamb of God. He came the first time as a meek little lamb, but don't be fooled. When he comes back it will be as the Lion of Judah. All the promises came true the first time.....why wouldn't they for the next?