God of the Old Testament displays many human images, many human emotions. Even though we are after all created in His image it still shocks one to read of an angry God or a vengeful God. God seems to play favorites often. We must keep in mind that the Bible was written by man. Man wrote of God in the only manner he could - in human terms.
Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. He wrote Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Genesis means beginning or origin. It is the beginning of mankind, the beginning of sin, and the beginning of our fall from Grace. Exodus recounts the story of the Israelites in Egypt and their escape form such harshness. Leviticus details the laws set down by God and the Levites - the 12 tribes of Israel. Numbers deals with the census on the surface. However, the underlying story follows the Israelites in the desert and into the land of Canaan. Deuteronomy continues the flight of the Israelites up to the last days of Moses. For the purpose of this paper we shall examine the first two books: Genesis and Exodus.
God is creative. He created everything in Genesis. The earth was without form (Genesis 1:2.) before He began to create. He created the earth and the stars and the heavens. He created the waters and the mountains, as well as the valleys and the creeks in between!
He is a protective Father. Essentially He tried to keep His people out...
He warns Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge (Genesis 2:17). He permits Noah to live since he has found grace in the Lord. He instructs Noah on ark-building (Genesis 6:14). He protected Abraham and Sarah from Abimelech (Genesis 20: 7). He protected many men through their dreams, giving them visions of what they were to do or sometimes what they were specifically NOT to do. Issac was protected when an angel appeared to Abraham.
The Lord protected Joseph, son of Jacob, in a special manner. His brothers sold Joseph into slavery. Throughout the years, the Lord made sure no harm came to Joseph. He protected Joseph in prison. He made sure that Joseph ended up becoming the Pharaoh's dream interpreter.
The Lord is also a provider. He is given an almost parental nature sometimes. While in the desert, Moses and the people became hungry. One's parents' would never let a meal slide by - neither would the LordThe Lord provided them with manna - bread from heaven (Exodus 16:31).
God grieves. The evil and wrongdoings of mankind make God sad many times. In the time of Noah, God saw the wickedness of man. It saddened Him (Genesis 6:6). He was saddened by the treatment in Egypt over the Israelites.
The Lord is a vengeful Lord. He removed Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. He destroyed man…
