As I have been studying the OT, and joining it with what I have studied in the Nt I am trying to understand the balence of God Our Fathers wrath and his mercy.
I see in the OT how God destroyed and called His people to destroy all that is evil many times. But I also see many times where He allowed many to continue despite their many severe sins against him.
Then there were some destroyed for small sins.
Then we look to the NT and mercy, Jesus, who suffered the cross for us.
But we also see revelations.
I am wondering about how it is decided, how it is understood when to condem and when mercy applies, how to understand how God Our Father wants us to act in this.
I have found some scripture in this, and have gleened some understanding. But I want to read your understanding on this and how we are to act, witness in our lives to glorify God Our Father.
Thankyou and God bless, pickles
Hi Pickles,
Right from the start we see judgment and mercy.. The Fall then mercy as they could live within the mercy here we see the first hint of the coming gospel.
Ever growing wickedness, God is going to blot out mankind, However He has already promised that there will be a gospel (I think its name from memory is protoeuangelion 'pre - gospel'), so God is also a Faithful God (Steadfast) He uses Noah to carry on, the flood comes and goes and grace abounds even though 'man is continually evil in his heart' (Gen 6 & 8). It is here we find a covenant with Noah.. the sign of which is the Rainbow... but if you read it again, who in this covenant takes the obligations?
This brings us to Nimrod and the tower of Babel, here we see Judgment.. but knowhere is there any grace.. the people are dispersed and confused in language.
Abraham enters the stage, God shows His merciful grace through this man. Through the covenant with Abraham (Gen 12:1-3; 15) in Chapter 17 we see the sign of the Covenant. Chapters 12,15 &17 are significant, again who takes on the obligations of this promissory covenant? Chapter 17 also shows that this is an EVERLASTING covenant. If you want to the best way to see this is to read:
Gen12:1-3, Gen15, Gen17:1-14, John 8:31-59 (the whole of ch8 preferably), Gal 3 &4. This will only take 20 mins max, and it is well worth reading them one after the other, it helps make sense of the everlasting promise to Abraham and the covenant of promise compared to the covenant of Law (Sinai).
Part of the promise was a son this came through Isaac, remember this was long before Abraham, read Gen 3:15 (proto euangelion). so God's Plan of the gospel is full steam ahead. you can see this pattern onwards. God's choice of seed (Gen 3:15 and promise to Abraham) will prevail no matter how satan tries otherwise. All throughout the OT we see God saying... because I have remembered you Father Abraham etc .. so it is very important to see this, and you will many times throughout the OT.
As God promised previoulsy to Abraham he would be the Father of a Nation, so Israel is born. (the enslavement was foretold already to Abraham by God from memory Gen 17 if not 15). From now on grace pertains to Israel. they rebel and moan, God sends judgment, but it follows with grace..because He remembers His promise/covenant with Abraham.
Its mid afternoon here just going out I'll type a quick overview of the rest if you want later... its amazing to see How God's grace and mercy works for His people.
Phil