What’s the difference?
February 27, 2009 (Friday)
I’ve been reading the Old Testament a lot lately, and have been reminded each day of the tremendous difference between the way God dealt with people back then and how he deals with us today.
Why is there such a difference? For instance, why did God command His people to go to war and kill in order to possess their new land, when Jesus taught us to “turn the other cheek” if we are attacked? Many other contrasts could be mentioned, but this one is enough to raise questions that call for answers.
Perhaps it might help us in understanding why those actions were taken back in that time period if we ask ourselves about the actions of Americans. We think of ourselves as enlightened and cultured, so why have we fought wars? Wars result in widespread destruction of property, costly loss of lives, and unimaginable suffering. The events of history unfolded in such a way that wars have been unavoidable and inevitable. The objective was to restore peace and maintain it, but the means of attaining that noble end was death and destruction. The times we were living in demanded it. We had no choice.
Back to the Old Testament and settlement of the Holy Land. It seems to me that the end God was seeking was someday to bring the Savior into this world. In order for that to be done, God established a people holy to Himself and gave them a land to call home. Along with other historical events, that was a necessary part of God’s plan. The end God was seeking could be attained only by the means described for us in the Bible. God led His people to do what had to be done to attain His ultimate purposes. Just as our own country had no alternative to wars, neither did Israel as it made its way to settle in the land of God’s choice.
The evidence of people gradually gaining a better understanding of who God is and what He is really like is in the Bible itself. You can see the people thinking of God more in spiritual terms and understanding the value of true morality as you observe the prophets of the Old Testament calling God’s people to repentance and a closer walk with God. Listen to the prophets plead for justice for all, as they proclaim God’s prophecies.
Jesus finally came, and with Him a new agreement between God and His people. It’s called “The New Covenant,” and it is sealed not with the blood of animals but with Jesus’ own blood. It is an agreement on our part not just to obey laws but to enter an entirely new relationship with God based on His love for us and ours for Him. The New Covenant is not a new set of laws, but a new way of thinking altogether. It is based upon a clearer understanding of who God is and what He expects from us.
Jesus came to those who were chafing under the yoke of unyielding demands to keep laws of many kinds in order to be right with God, and said, “You have heard….but I say to you…” Jesus Christ is God’s complete and final revelation of Himself to the world.
I may never understand completely what the difference is between God’s orders to the people of old and a love so great that it compelled Him at a later date to give up His own Son for our salvation. But I believe that God has always loved the people of this world and His methods at any given time were just what were needed in order to bring redemption and regeneration to those willing to trust Him.
In this blog today, I am not standing behind a podium teaching. Imagine, please, that you and I are just sitting around a camp fire, sharing our thoughts. That’s what I’ve tried to do here. My thoughts may have no place in any theological book, but I just toss them out to readers as something to think about. Throw another log on the fire–I don’t think we’ve settled this yet.