From Vengeance to Love: Seeing God Through Jesus
“From Vengeance to Love: Seeing God Through Jesus” When we read the Old Testament, we sometimes encounter passages that can be jarring. The battles in Joshua, for example, describe complete destruction of cities, and God’s commands to Israel seem severe: “Now devote to destruction everything in the city… so that it will be a warning to you” (Joshua 6:17, NIV). Similarly, David’s psalms include words that express anger and desire for revenge: “May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership… May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow” (Psalm 109:8–9, NIV). It is important to remember that these texts were written in particular historical and cultural contexts. The Old Testament writers sometimes portrayed God in a vengeful or punitive way because they were responding to human suffering, injustice, or the harsh realities of warfare. Their words can reflect human emotion and perception as much as divine instruction. But then comes Jesus, whose life and teaching...