Did God Change Between The Old Testament And New Testament?

08/10/2020 Did God Change Between The Old Testament And New Testament?

Series: Minor Prophets - True Faith

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What Does The Bible Say?

Nahum

Did God Change Between The Old Testament and New Testament?

36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. (Luke 6:36 NLT)

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (Ephesians 2:4–5 NLT)

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:7–8 NLT)

So why do we see a different God in the Old Testament versus the New Testament?

We do not!

9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. (2 Peter 3:9 NLT)

3 The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. (Nahum 1:3 NLT)

The God in both Testaments is a patient God that eventually has to follow through with His promise.

10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened. 

4:1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” (Jonah 3:10–4:3 NLT)

Jonah saw a merciful Old Testament God.  

Did you ever feel sorry for the people when God took their land and gave it to the Israelites?

16 After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction.” (Genesis 15:16 NLT)

24 “Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways. 25 Because the entire land has become defiled, I am punishing the people who live there. I will cause the land to vomit them out. (Leviticus 18:24–25 NLT)

God is patient, but His patience does run out.

How Can You Obey?

15 Look! A messenger is coming over the mountains with good news! He is bringing a message of peace. Celebrate your festivals, O people of Judah, and fulfill all your vows, for your wicked enemies will never invade your land again. They will be completely destroyed!  (Nahum 1:15 NLT)

Understand that Jesus is the Good News for us.

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:8–9 NLT)

Follow Jesus to receive that Good News.

How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”  (Romans 10:15 NLT)

Tell others about the Good News.

Additional Notes:

Explore:

The Old Testament mentions a number of occasions when God worked through nature to accomplish His will, including Noah’s flood (Genesis 6-9), the plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7-12), the donkey that spoke (Numbers 22), the sun “standing still” at Gibeon (Joshua 10), flooding at the Kishon Brook (Judges 5:21), drought in Elijah’s day (1 Kings 17:1; 18:1-46), the fish and Jonah (Jonah 1:17), and a locust plague in Joel (Joel 1), just to name a few. 

Explore:

God is often compared to a fortress or stronghold. These were secure positions that were often elevated and offered safety in a time of warfare. See Psalm 18:2; 27:1; 91:1-2; Isaiah 25:4; and Jeremiah 16:19, for examples.  

Explore:

The Hebrew word translated lovingkindness, mercy, love, and other ways in the Old Testament is hesed. This rich word has the dual senses of love and loyalty, and so may be understood as loyal, committed love seen often in the context of a covenant or promise (see Exodus 15:13; Deuteronomy 5:10; 2 Samuel 2:6; Psalm 90:14; Psalm 136; and Lamentations 3:22). 

Explore:

Nahum

The Fall of Nineveh

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.” (Nahum 1:7)

Major Theme

God is good, but God’s judgment is to engulf wicked Nineveh.

Background and Purpose

God’s followers in Judah would be comforted to learn about God’s judgment on the brutal Assyrians. Nahum announces that the Assyrians are doomed because of their excessive pride, idolatry and oppression. The book affirms God’s active interest in all nations, not just Israel.

Author

Nahum is only mentioned in the opening verse of the prophecy which bears his name. “An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite” (1:1). Even the location of Elkosh is not known.

Date

Nahum pictures the fall of Nineveh to the Babylonians in 612 bc as a future event. Nahum also refers to the fall of Thebes (663 bc) as an event that had already happened: “Are you better than Thebes … Yet she was taken captive” (3:8, 10). As Nahum pictures the fall of Nineveh as an imminent event, it is likely that the book of Nahum was much closer to 612 bc than to 663 bc. This would make Nahum a contemporary of Zephaniah.

Brief Outline

1. Nahum announces the coming of the divine avenger on Nineveh 1:1–15

2. Nahum gives a detailed description of the sieges, fall and sacking of Nineveh 2:1–13

3. Using horrific language, Nahum pronounces, “Woe to the city of blood” 3:1–19

Christ in Nahum

“… the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!’ is applied to the message and ministry of Jesus. See Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15

 Water, M. (2001). The Books of the Bible made easy (p. 34). Alresford, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishing.

Question 1 of 5

How can we stand for what is right, but do it respectfully and lovingly?      

Question 2 of 5

How is God’s wrath on sin actually justice?       

Question 3 of 5

How can God be both just and merciful when it comes to people’s sin?  

Question 4 of 5

Why is it important to us that God deals justly with evil and evildoers?  

Question 5 of 5

Are natural disasters always a form of God’s justice? Why, or why not?