By David Ettinger

Old Testament Misconception
When those not familiar with the Bible refer to “the God of the Old Testament,” they often use terms such as “hard,” “uncaring,” “vindictive,” and “vengeful.” It is true that quite a few verses record God’s righteous judgments upon sinful people and nations (Nahum 1:2-3 comes to mind).

However, the Old Testament contains numerous verses that speak of God’s love (Hosea 14:4); patience (Psalm 86:15); forgiveness (Micah 7:18); and mercy (Psalm 145:9). And here’s one that combines them all: “Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him” (Isaiah 30:18).

Not bad for the “vindictive” and “vengeful” God of the Old Testament, huh?

The Background
The mighty…