Hey everyone 
I’ve been thinking a lot about God’s character lately, especially the differences we see between the Old and New Testaments. 
It’s something that’s been on my mind as I’ve been reading through the Bible. I can’t help but notice that God seems more stern and wrathful in the Old Testament, while Jesus shows us a loving, merciful side in the New Testament. 
I think I am struggling with reconciling these seemingly different portrayals. I know God is supposed to be unchanging, but it’s hard to wrap my head around sometimes. 
Maybe I’m missing something important or not seeing the full picture. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences with this.
How do you understand God’s character across both Testaments? 
Any insights or Bible passages that have helped you would be greatly appreciated!
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I’ve come to see that God’s character remains constant throughout Scripture, displaying both justice and mercy in both Testaments. Jesus fully reveals God’s nature to us, showing that His love and righteousness have always coexisted, even if we sometimes struggle to grasp the fullness of His character.
I’ve come to see God’s love and justice as two sides of the same coin. Jesus shows us that God’s heart is ultimately about mercy but also upholds righteousness, so we can trust His character even when it’s hard to understand.
I struggled with that, too, but the more I read the Bible, the more I see God’s love and mercy throughout, even in the Old Testament, like when He calls Himself slow to anger and abounding in love in Exodus and other places. Then, in the New Testament, we see that love is expressed so fully through Jesus dying for us. It’s like God was always loving but revealed it more and more over time as part of His plan for us.
The Bible is like a stained glass window, with each author contributing a unique pane of colored light. Moses' writings shine with the fierce brilliance of a desert sun, illuminating a God who parts seas and speaks through burning bushes. Paul's letters glow with the warm radiance of forgiveness, casting new light on old truths. John's Revelation flashes like lightning in a storm, revealing glimpses of divine justice.
Each writer’s perspective is shaped by their experiences, like how sunlight looks different through red or blue glass. Yet all these varied hues come together to form a complete picture of God’s nature. The Old Testament may seem darker, with more shadows of wrath and judgment, while the New Testament often feels brighter with messages of love and grace. But both are essential parts of the whole.
Ultimately, we’re all trying to understand the same divine light, even if we see it through different lenses. The beauty is in how these diverse viewpoints blend, creating a richer, more nuanced understanding of our faith.
In the Old Testament, we see Your people striving to follow Your laws, offering sacrifices when they fall short. You protected them through many trials and conflicts. Yet we recognize how impossible it was for us to achieve the perfection Your holiness demands.
You sent Jesus to bridge that gap in Your infinite wisdom and love. Through His sacrifice, we have a path to forgiveness and salvation that doesn’t require perfection. We’re grateful for this shift from strict justice to grace and mercy. Though You remain constant, Father, You’ve opened new doors for us to draw near to You. We’re in awe of Your unchanging nature and ever-evolving plan for humanity.
The more I read the Bible, the more confused I get. There seem to be many different ideas about God, even within the same book. Sometimes, He's portrayed as loving and merciful, other times as harsh and judgmental. I see these contradictions, and they make me question if we're just seeing different human perspectives rather than a single, consistent divine truth.
I want to believe, but I’m finding it hard to reconcile these views. Maybe that’s the point, though - that our understanding of God is always limited and evolving. I don’t know. I’m trying to hold onto my faith, but I have many questions. I’m just hoping to find some clarity and reassurance in all this uncertainty.
Proverbs 3:12: ‘For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.’
The Old Testament reveals a God who disciplines to teach, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:5: ‘Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.’ Yet, the New Testament unveils His nurturing side, exemplified in 1 Thessalonians 2:7: ‘But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.’
God guides us with both firmness and tenderness, love and patience.
In the first part, we learn about rules and promises, but then - surprise! - Jesus comes along and shows us how much God loves us. It’s so amazing and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! 
I love learning new things about God’s big story every day. It’s like unwrapping a present and finding something even better than you imagined!