The question echoes through the ages, debated in pulpits, pondered in quiet moments of devotion, and challenged in the face of suffering: Is God different in the Old Testament than He is in the New? Did the God of thunder, immediate judgment, and strict law somehow soften into the God of grace, forgiveness, and unconditional love with the arrival of Jesus?
This isn’t just an academic exercise; it’s a vital quest to understand the very nature of the God we worship, the God who declares, “For I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6, AMP), and in whom there is “no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17, AMP). How do we reconcile the seemingly swift judgment on Uzzah with the patience shown to Ahab, or the immediate deaths of Ananias and Sapphira with Jesus’ declaration, “I have not come to condemn anyone”?
Let’s dive into the Scriptures to find clarity on God’s unchanging character of both perfect justice and boundless mercy.
The Holiness of God: Uzzah and the Ark
The story of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6:6-7 (AMP) is often cited as evidence of a harsh Old Testament God: “When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out [with his hand] to the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen [stumbled and] nearly overturned it. And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.”
At first glance, this seems incredibly severe. Uzzah was, perhaps, trying to help. But this incident isn’t about God being arbitrary or cruel; it’s about His absolute holiness and the meticulous instructions He had given for handling the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark represented God’s very presence, and only the Kohathite Levites were permitted to carry it, and then only by poles, never touching the Ark itself (Numbers 4:15). David and the Israelites were already in disobedience by transporting it on a cart rather than on the shoulders of the priests. Uzzah’s act, while perhaps well-intentioned from a human perspective, was a direct violation of God’s explicit command and a profound irreverence towards His sacred presence. It was a stark lesson to a people who needed to learn the gravity of God’s holiness.
Comparing with the Present: How then do we compare this with what can be called the ‘rampant irreverence for God in and outside God’s altars’ today? Why isn’t God ‘striking down’ people for every disrespectful act?
The answer lies in the progression of God’s redemptive plan and the fuller revelation of His grace through Christ. Uzzah lived under the Old Covenant, which established a system of law and sacrifice to reveal sin and the necessity of holiness. Today, we live under the New Covenant, ushered in by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. This doesn’t mean God’s holiness has diminished; rather, His justice for sin was fully satisfied in Jesus.
However, irreverence is still a sin, and it still grieves God. While the immediate physical consequence may not be the same, the spiritual consequences of an unholy life and a lack of reverence for God are still very real. The Church, as the body of Christ, is called to be holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), and irreverence hinders our fellowship with God and our witness to the world.
God’s Enduring Patience: The Case of Ahab
On the flip side of Old Testament judgment, we find astonishing examples of God’s mercy and patience. Consider King Ahab, one of the most wicked kings of Israel, who promoted Baal worship and persecuted God’s prophets. Yet, when Elijah pronounced judgment upon him, Ahab’s response was remarkable:
1 Kings 21:27-29 (AMP): “Now when Ahab heard these words [of Elijah], he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly (mourning). Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil (catastrophe) in his lifetime, but in his son’s days I will bring evil upon his house’ ” (this is another question that may bother people’s mind: does God reserve evil/catastrophe for the children?: I will deal with that in subsequent posts; for now we focus on His mercy and justice).
God’s response to Ahab’s reaction here is profound. Even for a man as depraved as Ahab, God responded to a moment of genuine, albeit temporary, humility. This demonstrates that God’s mercy and willingness to defer judgment were absolutely present and active in the Old Testament. He consistently sought repentance from His people, offering countless chances, sending prophets, and waiting patiently. This ‘very patient’ God is not a New Testament invention; He is the same God.
God’s mercy vs justice (image from: nickcady.org)
Grace and Justice in the New Testament: The Puzzle Pieces
The New Testament, with Jesus at its center, undeniably emphasises grace and salvation. Jesus explicitly states in John 3:17 (AMP): “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” And in John 8:15 (AMP): “You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.” These verses are pillars of our understanding of God’s grace and non-condemnatory posture towards those who believe in His Son. We are, indeed, in what can be called the ‘era of grace and mercy’ ushered in by Christ’s finished work.
However, the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 provides a chilling reminder that God’s justice, and His intolerance for deception within His holy community, remains. They sold property, kept back some of the proceeds, and then lied to Peter, and by extension, to the Holy Spirit, claiming they had given the full amount.
Acts 5:3 (AMP): “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back [some] of the proceeds from the land?'” Both Ananias and Sapphira subsequently died. This was an instant, severe judgment.
Why this seemingly Old Testament-style judgment in the early New Testament church?
- The infancy of the Church: This was a critical moment for the early church. Their integrity, unity, and truthfulness were paramount to their witness and growth. Such a blatant act of deception and hypocrisy, had it gone unchecked, could have corrupted the very foundations of the nascent community.
- Lying to the Holy Spirit: Their sin wasn’t merely against man, but against the Holy Spirit Himself, Who was actively indwelling believers in a new way. It was a severe affront to the divine presence within the community.
- God’s unchanging nature: It powerfully demonstrates that while the modus operandi of divine justice might change with the covenants (from direct physical judgment for ceremonial violations to spiritual consequences for moral ones, primarily), God’s core character – His hatred of sin, His demand for truth, and His ultimate justice – remains immutable.
Reconciling the Immutable God: Justice and Mercy in Harmony
So, how do we resolve this understanding of an unchanging God who displays both striking justice and profound mercy across all time?
- Progressive Revelation: God has progressively revealed Himself throughout history. The Old Testament laid the groundwork, revealing humanity’s need for a Savior through law, prophets, and sacrifices. The New Testament reveals the fulfillment of that need in Jesus Christ. The method of dealing with sin changed because the solution to sin was provided.
- The Cross as the Hinge: The cross of Christ is the ultimate display of both God’s justice and His mercy.
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- Justice: On the cross, Jesus bore the full wrath of God against sin. Every act of rebellion, every irreverence, every lie – the just penalty for it was poured out on Him. God’s justice was satisfied, fully and completely.
- Mercy: Because justice was satisfied, God can now extend mercy freely to all who believe in Jesus. He can declare the unrighteous righteous (Romans 3:26) because the debt has been paid.
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- Covenantal Context: The Old Covenant was primarily about external observance and the establishment of a holy nation through whom the Messiah would come. Transgressions often had immediate, public, and physical consequences to teach a nascent nation about God’s holiness. The New Covenant is about internal transformation, relationship with God through the Spirit, and the building of a spiritual kingdom. While sin still has consequences (both natural and spiritual), the direct, punitive physical judgments are less common because the ultimate judgment for sin has been absorbed by Christ.
- Purpose of Judgment: In both testaments, God’s judgments are not arbitrary acts of malice but serve specific purposes: to bring repentance, to establish holiness, to warn against future sin, or to protect His covenant people. Uzzah’s death instilled awe regarding God’s holiness; Ananias and Sapphira’s deaths protected the integrity of the early church from deceit.
- Our Role: Reverence and Repentance: We are called to live in reverence for God, acknowledging His holiness, even in this age of grace. As Hebrews 12:28-29 says, “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer service to God well-pleasing with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” And when we fall short, the path to God’s mercy is always open through genuine repentance, just as it was for Ahab, and for countless others throughout scripture.
Conclusion
God is not schizophrenic; He is immutable. His character of perfect justice and perfect love (which drives both His mercy and His judgment) remains constant. The difference we perceive lies in the unfolding of His redemptive plan. The Old Testament highlights the problem of sin and the need for a solution, often through immediate consequences. The New Testament reveals the solution in Christ, where justice and mercy meet at the cross.
Today, we live in the era of grace, where God’s ultimate judgment for sin has been poured out on His Son. This invites us to a deeper, more intimate relationship with a God who is both infinitely just and infinitely merciful – a God who is worthy of all our reverence, trust, and wholehearted devotion. Understanding this harmony liberates us from fear and empowers us to live lives that honor His unchanging, glorious nature.
#GodsCharacter #JusticeVsMercy #OldTestament #NewTestament #TheCross #DivineAttributes #ImmutableGod #BiblicalTruth
Sources
- Packer, J.I. Knowing God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, [Original Publication Year, e.g., 1973].
- Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, [Original Publication Year, e.g., 1994].
- Bruce, F.F. The Book of Acts. Revised Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., [Original Publication Year, e.g., 1988].
- Sproul, R.C. The Holiness of God. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., [Original Publication Year, e.g., 1985].
- Image I from: https://nickcady.org/2017/07/18/arent-justice-and-mercy-incompatible-by-definition/
- Image II from https://robertgriffith.net/justice-and-mercy/
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