Mark Gignilliat, a former professor of mine at Beeson Divinity School, has written an excellent article in Christianity Today. The title of the article is, “Not Just a New Testament God,” and the tag line says it all: “the cranky, severe, Old Testament God is not just an opening act.” Here’s a taste:
The one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reveals himself to us in the Old Testament as both severe and merciful. The Bible leans against our tendency to construct a god after our own image. We cannot approach the delicatessen of God’s person like we approach a buffet—taking a heaping of this and a dollop of that, while passing over what we deem unpalatable. Neither God’s severity—”Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger?” (Nah. 1:6, ESV)—nor his mercy—”Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression?” (Mic. 7:18)—can be diminished or pitted against each other in our reading of the Old Testament. As Habakkuk pleads, “[I]n wrath remember mercy” (Hab. 3:2). C. S. Lewis described Aslan as good but not safe. The same is true of God. Just ask Uzzah (2 Sam. 6:7).
You can read the full article here. I highly recommend it!