I continue to be struck by the abundance of God’s grace as I read through the Old Testament. When I was much spiritually younger, as most do today, God’s grace is equated with the New Testament, while the God of the Old Testament is viewed as more stern and less forgiving.

Yet, that is a false view of major proportions. From the very beginning, God’s grace shows up in the Old Testament. In Genesis 3, even though he ousts Adam and Eve from Eden, he still provides them with clothing to cover up their sense of shame. When the Lord told Moses to go speak to Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites from their bondage, he was very reluctant to go and offered several excuses why he was not the man best suited for the mission. Finally, after God responded to each excuse with a solution, Moses pleaded, “Please send someone else.” We are told the Lord was angry with him at this point. It would be reasonable to expect that God would put an end to his life for his recalcitrance; yet he does not. Instead, he suggests his brother, Aaron, accompany him.

Another example is the Lord’s treatment of Rahab, a Canaanite who lived in Jericho. She was also a prostitute. Both her nationality and her profession were abhorrent to the Lord. Her city and its people were doomed to destruction because of their paganism. Yet, her openness to protect the Israelite spies were an indication of her heart and God showed grace toward not only her, but her family as well, when the city was eventually destroyed. (Joshua 6:22-25)

And then, even more surprisingly, there is Ahab, a horrible Israelite king who “did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.” (I Kings 16:30) He opposed the prophet Elijah and sought to kill him. He also framed an the innocent Naboth so that he was executed only because he desired to have his garden for himself. When Elijah confronted him with a word from the Lord, we are told that he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. (I Kings 21:27). In response, the Lord showed grace to Ahab.

These, and many other examples I could cite, should be proof enough to conclude that the Lord of the Old Testament is as full of grace as we read about in the New Testament. There is no difference. Why is this important? Because it is crucial that we see God is unchangeable. He is “the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) And if he doesn’t change, then we can rely on his Word in both the Old and New Testament. We live in a world where, for so many, their view of the God of the Old Testament is a stumbling block for them. They see only the judgment and not the grace, which is reinforced by those carrying placards and bullhorns declaring God’s judgment.

As Paul reminds us in Romans 2, it is the Lord’s kindness that he intends to lead people to repentance, not judgment. And one of the major reasons people reject the faith, including many young people raised in the church, is because of their perceptions of a judgmental God reflected in a judgmental church.

In a time where many sins are lauded in our culture, let us be purveyors of God’s grace with the hope that will open hearts and minds to confession and repentance. Let us remember that God has always been willing to show grace to sinners. He even died for them.

© Jim Musser 2022 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.