I came across an interesting question by a member of a forum I frequent related to the community I live in. They asked the question, “Why is God so different in both testaments? (Bible – Old and New)” They provided no other details as to what they were referring to, however I’d make a pretty good that guess that they were comparing the differences between God’s grace and God’s wrath.

You see the Old Testament is filled with occurrences of God’s judgment upon sinners – the plagues of Egypt, Sodom and Gomorrah, King Nebuchadnezzar, David’s adultery with Bathsheba, and the list goes on. In fact if you start reading through the first five books of the Bible, you might get the impression that God is very strict, impatient, angry and wrathful. The New Testament can give the impression that God is a God of love and grace. So which is true? Is God a God of judgment and wrath or a God of love and grace? Actually He’s both.

The Old Testament comprises the history of man before Christ along with prophecies, proverbs and psalms. The New Testament comprises four books recounting Christ’s time here on Earth, the early history of the church (Acts), and several letters to the churches. However, keep in mind that the last book in the New Testament is “The Book of Revelation” in which we once again see a God pouring out wrath and judgment, but at the same time exhibiting extreme patience and lovingkindness as He gives mankind a chance to repent.

Therefore, the Old Testament may give readers the impression that God is this mean old man just waiting for us to screw up so He can whack us over the head with a big ol’ baseball bat while in the New Testament, God seems to have chilled out a bit. It appeared that way to me when I first became a Christian. I started reading in Genesis and got up to Joshua before I ever ventured into the New Testament. What inspired me to leave off in Joshua and go to the book of Matthew in the New Testament was viewing the movie “Jesus of Nazareth” where I saw a God of love. I then realized that He is a God of love but at the same time, He just.

Another thing to remember is that in the Old Testament, God’s chosen people were under the law. Now we live under grace meaning that all mankind’s sins have been paid for once and for all by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. No longer do we have to make our own atonement for sin as they did in the Old Testament because it has already been done for us.

So it is not necessarily a situation where God is uptight in the Old Testament and is now laid back in the New Testament. In fact if you read through the Book of Revelation, you will see more of God’s wrath poured out upon unrepentant sinners than anywhere in the Old Testament. So remember, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The Old and New Testaments represent different times in history as well as different covenants between God and man, and yet they both show not only God’s judgment and wrath but His grace and love as well.

Sounds like a weird story – a man suing the Almighty. I hear it happens quite often. In this situation, Nebraska State Senator, Ernie Chambers, is suing God for making terroristic threats against the senator and his constituents, inspiring fear and causing ‘widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth’s inhabitants.’
The Omaha senator, who skips morning prayers during the legislative session and often criticizes Christians, also says God has caused ‘fearsome floods … horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes.’ He’s seeking a permanent injunction against the Almighty.

Chambers said his filing was triggered by a federal lawsuit he considers frivolous. Therefore he is trying to make an example that anybody can sue anybody. However, I bet he didn’t expect God to answer, but He did.

A court filing from “God” appeared Wednesday under otherworldly circumstances, according to John Friend, clerk of the Douglas County District Court in Omaha. “This one miraculously appeared on the counter. It just all of a sudden was here — poof!” Friend said.

I just love God’s response where He argues that the “defendant is immune from some earthly laws and the court lacks jurisdiction.” It adds that blaming God for human oppression and suffering misses an important point.

“I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you,” according to the response, as read by Friend.

There was no contact information on the filing, although St. Michael the Archangel is listed as a witness, Friend said. A second response from “God” disputing Chambers’ allegations lists a phone number for a Corpus Christi law office.

It is sad that God gets blamed for all our woe and misery when we have brought it on ourselves. Oh, I know we don’t control the weather as far as hurricanes, tornadoes and floods are concerned, however we do have some affect on it with all the pollution we create. We have also created this world we live in which has been cursed since Adam and Eve committed the original sin.

Now if you believe the Bible, God promises to one day create a new Heaven and a new Earth. Until then, let’s stop blaming God for every misfortune that happens and rather thank Him for the good.

“Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.” – (James 1:17 NASB)