Has God Changed?

Some, who look at God's interaction with the people of the Old Testament compared with what is seen in the New Testament, have concluded that God has changed. The claim is that the God of the Old Testament brought swift punishment and destruction on those who walked contrary to His will, but the God of the New Testament expresses love and patience instead. Is this so?

Note what the LORD says about Himself:

• "..For I am the LORD, I change not..." (Malachi 3:6)
• With God "...there is no variation or shadow of turning." (James 1:17)
• "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Such being the case, we should expect to find that God is the same in character, whether it is in the Old Testament or the New Testament. There is not a harsh, hardened God in the Old Testament and a loveable, whatever-goes God in the New. Let us consider what we see of God in both covenants.

Certainly, there are numerous instances in the Old Testament where we see God's wrath come upon the people. The flood came because mankind turned from walking right to violence (Genesis 6:11-13). Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed due to their wickedness (Genesis 18:20-21; 19:13). Even after God brought Israel, His own people, from the bondage of Egypt, He caused all but 2 of that generation to fall in the wilderness (Numbers 32:10-13; 1 Corinthians 10:5-10). Several other examples of God's wrath upon those who rejected His will are scattered throughout the Old Testament.