Has God Changed?
I was visiting a bible study newsgroup the other day and came across the header ‘Does God Change?’ That is a good question. Many people may come up with many different initial answers. Seemingly, contradictory scriptural references abound within the Bible. Can we find an answer to this question? Well, to get an educated answer, the Bible tells the Bible reader to use scripture to check scripture (2Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness).
The Bible is comprised of two sets of books, collectively called Testaments. The Old Testament shows God (Jehovah, Yahweh, etc.) directly dealing with the characters within. The New Testament mentions God, but God does not directly deal with anyone but Jesus. For this reason, we will consider that the God of the Old Testament is God and that the God of the New Testament is Jesus. The reasoning behind this can be found in the New Testament book 1 Timothy 2:5; For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Since Jesus is the mediator, we receive all of our instructions from God through Him. We will also consider ourselves, the readers, to be students, seeking wisdom from the Heavenly Author of these worldly works.
The three points we will consider in this paper to decide if there is a difference between God and Jesus are acceptable punishment; Differences in administering this punishment; and Love. This paper is in no way a complete theological study. Many more points could be raised in defense of the author’s opinions, but only the three mentioned points will be briefly examined.
God in the Old Testament seems to have been a vengeful God, quick to anger and even quicker to administer punishment. God says that if someone treats you wrong, then you can treat him or her likewise, as illustrated by the following scripture:
Exodus 21:24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Exodus 21:25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Jesus tells us, in the New Testament, to be forgiving and understanding with others, as written in the following passages:
Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
No longer are we to seek vengeance for the wrongs that others have done unto us, but to be humble and meek.
God gave us the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:3-17 and he gave us punishments to inflict upon individuals for breaking these commandments in Exodus chapters 21, 22, and 23, as well as Leviticus chapter 24 and Deuteronomy chapter 24.
The following reference is an example of desired punishment for adulterers:
Lev 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man’s wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Jesus recognizes the hypocrisy of the accusers against the accused, and when asked about these methods of punishments in the book of John, Jesus lays down a different charge in the following scripture:
John 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman taken in adultery. And standing her in the midst,
John 8:4 they said to Him, Teacher, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. John 8:5 Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such should be stoned.
John 8:7 But as they continued to ask Him, He lifted Himself up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.
This statement follows the advice that Jesus gave in Matthew 7:1: Judge not, that ye be not judged.
God expects us to love those that love us:
Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Whereas, Jesus expects us to love everyone:
Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
Half of the Psalms written by King David are about overcoming ones enemies. David prays that God give David victory over his enemies.
Jesus tells us to pray for their deliverance from evil so that we may reconcile our differences and all become children of God.
In the tenth chapter of Matthew Jesus says:
Matthew 10:35 For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Matthew 10:36 A person’s enemies will be members of his own family.
We surely would not want to destroy our enemies if they were members of our own families, would we? We want to save them, pray for them and get them back into the family.
A family is what we are and God is our Father.
Has God changed?
The answer is no, we have grown.
In the Old Testament, we can liken ourselves to young children. We do not know enough to care for ourselves. We cannot defend ourselves. We have not the courage or strength to stand up for ourselves. We need our Father to protect us from our enemies and from ourselves.
As we grow a little older, our father teaches us how to take care of ourselves. He teaches us to attack our enemies quickly and mercilessly before they can do us any harm. He knows who our enemies are before we recognize them as such. He brings us from childhood into adulthood. He teaches us to stand on our own two feet and to take what is ours.
The Old Testament represents us as children and young adults, and God, as our caring, loving Father, who will allow no harm to befall us, but will punish us for our disobedience.
The New Testament shows us as grown adults who must take responsibility for our actions. God is no longer going to fight our battles for us, but will act as an advisor, or mediator (except in extreme emergencies). Jesus gives us the rules of life. He teaches us proper behavior when dealing with difficult people, with the government, with our spouses and children, with fellow believers, and with God. Jesus gives us the rules, but it is our responsibility to follow them. He does not force us to do what He tells us to do, nor does He punish us for immediately failing to follow the rules He has given us.
We are adults and our actions are our own. Free will governs our actions. We follow or disobey God’s wishes accordingly.
Has God changed?
Not according to the Old Testament as written in Malachi 3:6 For I [am] the LORD, I change not.
Not according to the New Testament as written in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Jesus also tells us in Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
In the Old Testament, God seems vengeful, demanding reciprocal payment for wrongs done and expecting us to treat our friends and enemies differently.
The New Testament introduces us to Jesus Christ who is forgiving, understanding and full of love for everyone.
Has God changed somehow from the Old Testament to the New Testament?
No, we have.
We are adults now.
Let us act like it. Let us treat each other with dignity and respect, even if that treatment is not reciprocal, while we wait for the next Testament to unfold.
