I am a Christian, and I believe it when the Bible says that God is a loving father and He never changes. The Jesus that we know in the New Testament is the same God who always existed from the very beginning. In Him, we saw who God is, and we saw in his ministry in Earth that He never killed anyone but rather healed the sick and brought the dead back to life again.
James 1:17 (NLT) Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
But I am confused as to why God seems so harsh in the Old Testament. I want to know Him deeply, but when I read the Bible, there are many things that I don't understand about Him and His thoughts and decisions.
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Please take your time in reading this,I hope it answers your question.
At the very heart of this question lies a fundamental misunderstanding of what both the Old and New Testaments reveal about the nature of God. Another way of expressing this same basic thought is when people say, “The God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath while the God of the New Testament is a God of love.” The fact that the Bible is God’s progressive revelation of Himself to us through historical events and through His relationship with people throughout history might contribute to misconceptions about what God is like in the Old Testament as compared to the New Testament. However, when one reads both the Old and the New Testaments, it becomes evident that God is not different from one testament to another and that God’s wrath and His love are revealed in both testaments.
For example, throughout the Old Testament, God is declared to be a “compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 4:31; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:5, 15; 108:4; 145:8; Joel 2:13). Yet in the New Testament, God’s loving-kindness and mercy are manifested even more fully through the fact that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Throughout the Old Testament, we also see God dealing with Israel the same way a loving father deals with a child. When they willfully sinned against Him and began to worship idols, God would chastise them. Yet, each time He would deliver them once they had repented of their idolatry. This is much the same way God deals with Christians in the New Testament. For example, Hebrews 12:6 tells us that “the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
In a similar way, throughout the Old Testament we see God’s judgment and wrath poured out on sin. Likewise, in the New Testament we see that the wrath of God is still “being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness” (Romans 1:18). So, clearly, God is no different in the Old Testament than He is in the New Testament. God by His very nature is immutable (unchanging). While we might see one aspect of His nature revealed in certain passages of Scripture more than other aspects, God Himself does not change.
As we read and study the Bible, it becomes clear that God is the same in the Old and New Testaments. Even though the Bible is 66 individual books written on two (or possibly three) continents, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1500 years by more than 40 authors, it remains one unified book from beginning to end without contradiction. In it we see how a loving, merciful, and just God deals with sinful men in all kinds of situations. Truly, the Bible is God’s love letter to mankind. God’s love for His creation, especially for mankind, is evident all through Scripture. Throughout the Bible we see God lovingly and mercifully calling people into a special relationship with Himself, not because they deserve it, but because He is a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth. Yet we also see a holy and righteous God who is the Judge of all those who disobey His Word and refuse to worship Him, turning instead to worship gods of their own creation (Romans chapter 1).
Because of God’s righteous and holy character, all sin—past, present, and future—must be judged. Yet God in His infinite love has provided a payment for sin and a way of reconciliation so that sinful man can escape His wrath. We see this wonderful truth in verses like 1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” In the Old Testament, God provided a sacrificial system whereby atonement could be made for sin. However, this sacrificial system was only temporary and merely looked forward to the coming of Jesus Christ who would die on the cross to make a complete substitutionary atonement for sin. The Savior who was promised in the Old Testament is fully revealed in the New Testament. Only envisioned in the Old Testament, the ultimate expression of God’s love, the sending of His Son Jesus Christ, is revealed in all its glory in the New Testament. Both the Old and the New Testaments were given “to make us wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15). When we study the Testaments closely, it is evident that God “does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
Very great comment! We are under a new covenant and studying the Bible will hopefully yield understanding. God is the same person, he simply chose to give us his grace.
Romans 6:14 (NLT) Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
Very well said my brother.
The people who wrote the Old Testament had a different understanding of God than did the people who wrote the New Testament. When God became flesh & dwelt among us, it gave humanity a much greater understanding of Who God is.
Great answer!
The Old Testament contains some wrath and judgement (not as much as people assume) but it also contains promises of future forgiveness and redemption.
The New Testament contains forgiveness and redemption, but also a lot of promises of future wrath and judgement for people that refuse Christ.
This is correct. Both have a mixture of love and mercy and also judgement and anger at sin.
The OT has a lot to say of his character of love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and so on. Especially looking at the psalms.
But yes, the OT also included the judgment of God. But it's important to see why judgment came down.
The Egyptians enslaved God's people for hundreds of years. God gave Pharoah so many opportunities to change his heart, but he just became more and more oppressive. God finally took him out.
He judged the people of Canaan who worshiped demon gods and sacrificed their kids to fire. Yeah he didn't like that. But he did save those who turned, even including ones like Rahab the harlot in the ancestry of Jesus.
When we see stuff like Hitlers holocaust, it almost begs for the judgment of God, does it not? If you watch some videos on that, it should disgust the normal person.
If we were honest with ourselves, it is surprising that judgment doesn't happen more often in serious ways. Think of how much bad garbage goes on here in the US on a daily basis.
And God wasn't just driving out people, but also their demon gods from the land. But all the while God always sought to bring mercy. Even for Sodom and Gemorrah, God was willing to spare the entire place even if a handful of righteous folk were in the land.
So perhaps that helps. God's love be with you ❤️
Do you think it’s possible that modern people think and act very very differently than ancient people?
You should be able to see Jesus throughout the whole bible. To answer your question he is harsh in both and loving in both… Jesus is the lion and the lamb. Friend and judge.
Israel brought it on themselves. Since the time God brought them out of the Red Sea, he had been showing them how, without him, they can do nothing. They were unthankful and unwilling to learn the lessons God was trying to teach them.
Exodus 15:22-27
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
25 And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
God proved to them that they could not keep his laws and commandments, even when he gave them only one.
Exodus:16-1-4,15-27
16 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
4 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
16 This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.
17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
19 And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.
20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.
22 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.
25 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.
26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.
27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.
28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
Exodus 17:2-4.9-11
2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?
3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.
9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
They should have never said, "All the LORD hath spoken, we will do," because it was obvious they could not keep his laws and commandments. Instead, they foolishly decided they could do what was asked of them and entered into a law contract with God.
Exodus 19:4-6
4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Notice how God's whole demeanor changes on Mount Sinai; even Moses was scared.
Exodus 19:9-25
9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
23 And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
24 And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.
25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.
Exodus 20:18-22
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
Hebrews 12:18-21
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Romans 3:19-26
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:10,17
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Don't confuse Christian religion with the word of God. Biblical ignorance will get you into trouble. What you need to do is be convicted that God has given us his words and preserved them for us to this day. What is important is what God said, who he was speaking to, and where it is found. I believe the King James Bible to be the perfect and preserved word of God.
Everything in the Bible is true, but that does not mean everything was written to you specifically. If you think of the Bible as a book of letters, the only ones with your address are Romans - Philemon. Jesus said himself he was not sent to the gentiles; he was preaching to Israel about the coming kingdom.
Read Acts 7, when Steven is being stoned to death, and sees the Son of God standing. That is important, and the Jews knew that meant the day of the LORD was imminent, but that is not what happened. Paul was there when Steven was martyred, and later blinded by the appearing of Jesus Christ in Acts 9. He is given another gospel that had been kept secret since the world began. This included salvation for gentiles through faith in Jesus Christ, in order to reclaim the heavens for himself. That is what the mystery is all about.
This is why God told us to rightly divide, so we know what we are talking about. Once this dispensation of grace concludes, God will resume his program with Israel. That is why the Old Testament, the Gospels, Acts, Hebrews, James, Peter, John, Jude, and Revelation are not applicable to you for doctrine. Paul's epistles: Romans - Philemon are.
1 Timothy 2:4
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Matthew 10:5-6
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 15:24
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Acts 9:1-6
9 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Romans 9:4
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Romans 11:25
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Romans 15:4-9
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
Galatians 2:8
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
Acts 3:21
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Romans 16:25
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
1 Corinthians 2:7-8
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Ephesians 1:4-5
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 2:7,11-13
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 3:1-12
3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Ephesians 4:13-14
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Colossians 1:25-28
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
2 Peter 3:16
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
God had compassion on humans and animals in the Old Testament. He never killed anyone unless it was absolutely necessary.
11 “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?” —Jonah 4:9-11,
When he commanded Canaanite babies to be exterminated and Israelites did not obey his order, Do you know what happened? Countless more people ended up dying than there would have had died if only Israelites obeyed God's commands.
There's so much mercy and grace in the OT. Over and over and over again He shows mercy. Then, eventually, after so much mercy, He has to be just. And that's all people notice.
Consider the fact that God is still the same. It was the people who were different back then which caused God to judge them more harshly. Back then you had people sacrificing their infants to idols, cult prostitutes, kings killing and enslaving whole people groups and creating idols to themselves for people to worship or be killed, etc. These things are unheard of in the common era so it makes sense that God responds differently to human behavior based on what they deserve. You also had God dwelling amongst His people, performing miracles right in front of them, and directly giving orders to them, so to disobey God after seeing all that carried more weight in a sense and deserved a stronger penalty, especially if you were a leader or king of the Israelites. The old covenant also had a very long list of penalties that would kick in if Israel disobeyed it so God was abiding by the terms of it.
He is the same God dealing with humanity through a different covenant, brought by Moses with blessings and curses detailed in Deuteronomy 28. Jesus is the Messiah and He brought the new covenant:
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ
In Old Testament days, people we tribal and violent. Hid first need to teach them about the concepts of good and bad, obedience and rebelliousness, sin and punishment, repentance and redemption. He had to drive these lessons home, again and again.
After a couple millennia of this, He was able to move on to more advanced concepts of love, compassion, and redemption of sin through Jesus.
God didn’t change. We did.
Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. He brought us peace with God the Father.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
I dunno, Jesus was pretty harsh on the religious leaders. Also, Revelation is pretty hardcore.
Not to mention God causing Ananias and Sapphira to drop dead right ON THE SPOT in Acts when they were starting the church because they lied to the Holy Spirit. That was a pretty Old Testament moment right there.
preconceived perceptions long before you actually read the OT produce this problem. the prophets, as well as moses, speak of a loving God.
the book of Judges, i'm not sure is inspired. its clearly written after david, or every story wouldn't end with "for there were no kings in those days, everyone did as they saw fit" -as if that is intrinsically a bad thing.
as bad as the stories in judges are, its just a select few of the worst of society at the time. from God's point of view, he was grieved when they rejected his prophets and he gave them kings. it was not better during the days of the kings than it was previously, but, from a worldly perspective it was, but only during the good kings, which were few and far between.
regarding the OT.. when Moses brought them out of egypt, the living conditions were so bad they had to be reminded not to defecate in their own tents. under these kinds of living conditions, persistant squabbles, fighting, is common. so don't presume that they were any more wicked, intrinsically, than we are today.
Jesus is the culmination of God's harsh law of the old testament. Without that law, Jesus would never have been born and we'd still be constantly warring. Jesus came to free us from the strict law that created him. The strategy that God laid down for us thousands of years ago was incredibly ambitious and paradoxical. But it worked! We are now on the verge of realizing Jesus' kingdom.
Have you not read the Apocalypse?