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The bible records the beginning of time until 2000 years ago, roughly. It may seem like a lot of smiting was going on, but, really there were hundreds and even thousands of years where there was no smiting at all. It's wrong to look at God in those terms. A study of the time lines will show that God has always been patient and only smote after extreme provocation. And then, only after repeated warnings.
Don't make the mistake of letting others (a middle-eastern tribe from 3000 years ago, or a fear-based fundamentalist today) define the terms of God for you and say "this is it, take it or leave it".
In the Bible-writers' defense, though, anybody's idea of God is filtered through the lens of their times and personality. It's probably only in pretty recent times that people have much objected to, eg, the story of Abraham being told to kill his own son, instead of the old-school thinking "isn't it awe-inspiring that Abraham obeyed God so much that he'd kill his own son, and God stayed his hand so it's OK anyway."
Possibly due to the sacrifice Jesus made to cover our sins?
Why shouldnt he be patient..we are killing ourselves.
The people who imagine him are mellowing out.
She went through Menopause. :)
At least someone is paying attention! Because the OT god and the NT god ARE NOT THE SAME gods!
He is on a 2000+ year paid absence leave(work stress related matters)!
Because in biblical times, the bible was used as a set of laws, when it was hard to keep people in line. The fear, and wrath of god, works similar to the way that the fear of prison works today. Since today, less and less people believe in god as strongly as they did in biblical times, due to the advance of science answering many questions that the bible answered in those times. And a police force keeping the peace, instead of a all powerful unseeable force.
God was never really wrathful, the stories of his wrath was just a early, and more brutal, form of the scared straight programs of today.
And I'll probably get atleast one de-rept from a annoyed bible hugger, but that is my answer based on my closest preception of logic.
One name only: Jesus
god is the same today yesterday and tomarrow it is people who change ... in the bible it says there is nothing new under the sun everything that will happen has already happened before and nothing new will happen.. also , god made the end when he made the beggining. all wisdom and knowledge are from god.. He made the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.
He's getting old.
Remember when you were a toddler how strict your parents were,
then a brother or sister came into the picture,
they were less strict with each child until the last one who got away with murder.?
Thats how it is with OMG.
God was not really all that wrathful in biblical tiems, I presume you mean Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture times? He told the prophets that if this ..then that...but always forgave and held out the promise and had a remnant; He also favored the Anawim, the Little Ones of the Earth and said he wanted mercy and not just empty external worship, devoid of innter conversion of heart. Today the high incidence of AIDS, war, all destruction of life from the womb to the tomb arise from our inhumanity, but are often seen as God's punishment for our conduct or God's vindictiveness. But the thoughtful person will see that nature takes its course, we do a lot of what causes evil and God awaits the final outcome. Jesus for the Christian believer is the eikon (Greek), our word Icon or Image of the Unseen God and shows us that non-violence, forgiveness, compassion and un-conditional Love are the answer. Slowly the lesson will be learned by the culture and society but it must needs be done consistently. people who want baby seals protected cannot be anti-life for the unborn; while money used to protect "Freedom" might be better used to protect people from catastrophic medical bills and bring water to Africa, or Korea, rather than provide weapons to people we favor and want them to kill people we do not like wherever they may be on the Planet!
I could argue that he has shown signs of being wrathful (the Asian tsunami killed 150,000; a year before an Iranian - I think it was iran- had an earthquake that killed 60,000); Pakistan and India have both had earthquakes in the past five years that killed tens of thousands; and Aids, and famine - not to mention genocide- have been sweeping across Africa for many years. But I won't make that argument, because it would sound as if these people are being punished for something and I don't believe they deserve it or even that God intervenes in earthly matters. He means for humans to work on these problems.
Who says He was "so wrathful" in Biblical times?
There's the story of the Flood in Genesis 7 -- which is also a story of God's faithfulness and mercy -- the story of the Sodom in Genesis 19 -- which is also a story of God's faithfulness and mercy -- and then there's the story of the 10 plagues of Egypt and the Red Sea victory in Exodus 1-15 -- which is Judaism's foundational story of God's faithfulness and mercy. But there's a lot more to the Bible and Biblical history than 17 chapters from the first 2 books. The rest of the OT is all about God's incredibly long-suffering patience and forebearance with Israel, and his mercy. Over the following 1000 years, only when Israel had gone too far for too long did God disciplines/chastises *Israel* for their sins IN ORDER TO BRING THEM BACK to righteousness and Godliness ... which is also a testimony to God's faithfulness and mercy. In fact, the most empassioned declarations of God's love and mercy are found in the OT. (Meanwhile, the entire doctrine of Hell and damnation comes out of the mouth of Christ Himself in the NT.)
As for now, who says God isn't wrathful (as well as patient and merciful) now? What do you think the Civil War was? (Read Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural and the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic: both recognized that the war was God's judgment on America for slavery.) What do you think World War I and II were? (God finally giving man over to the consequences of their sins of social Darwinism, imperialism, the cult of progress, and anti-Biblical Nietzchean beliefs - popular and endemic in all Europe and the Americas, not just Germany.) Whenever the world get's what's coming to it for its sins and hubris, that's God's "wrath" (and mercy) at work.
God is not lack concerning His promise but is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentence and an understanding of the Truth. It hurts God to let the earth go on this way. But if he comes back now a lot of people will perish because they can't stand before Him. He's waiting for you to realize the Truth...
The Hebrews (& everyone else) in the OT was under The Law, that is, Gods absolute rights and wrongs as given to them through Moses to highlight the fact that following them is impossible. From the death and resurection of Christ to present, humanity has been under grace (by faith in Him) when we realize we do not have the ability to follow Gods laws by our own abillity.
Because you spank 5-year-olds but protect them from the natural outcomes and consequences of their acts.
But you don't spank your teenagers while you do let them face the consequences of their acts.
HE was wrathful to those who did not HEAR, and will be again in the end to all those who still will not HEAR....HE is as patient now as HE was then....we are definitely not worthy of HIS patience & undeserved GRACE....it is our individual choice...right & wrong
Short answer: because Jesus was crucified, thereby changing our relationship with God forever.
He gave up nobody took the hint.
Please ignore
Everyone who so claims represents god. Since there is no god to say otherwise anyone is far safer making claims on behalf of god than on their neighbor.
I'm glad your girls good. No one should have to suffer, especially kids.
Jesus definitely is the answer to that one.
According to the Bible, God was the primary ruler back then. He gave the Israelites the choice between having him as a ruler, and having elected officials like much of the other people groups. When we chose to elect our own officials, he stopped being the official, so he stopped administering judgment upon so many people.
age really changes a man....
God is like a parent. We where babies back in the ancient times and God is or was weening us from him like a mother does weening her child from being breast feed all the time. Just my 2 cents worth. Take my opinion anyway you like.
'
cuase he likes watching all the tv shows we made...
By becoming man He realized that we are half-retarted creations, so like a mother with a looser son who is in and out of jail...she still loves him.
he was harsh because the old testament is primaraly set on the rules
and the new testament is more patient because Jesus died on the cross and took all the sins away
well. he gave everyone a chance for a clean slate.
Because he is fake. Everything was in chaos a long time ago.
God's Mercy and Grace.
HE is patient now, because HE does not deal with humanity the way HE did in OLD and NEW TESTAMENT times anymore.....after Christ we have FREE WILL. no more Apostles, Prophets,Angels, Moses, Abraham's, John the Baptists, miracles,etc. The only thing that will come about are the Prophecies of Revelations and then HE comes....
HE is the same as HE always was...
You must consider that He was harsh with the Jews, who knew all of the commandments by heart, and if anyone broke them, they were extremely rebellious, and God would not allow His chosen people to corrupt themselves like that.
There is also two different ways to think of this as well. Some believe that God deals with man in dispensations, in that He deals with man in different ways in different times, for they were Jews and we are Gentiles. They were under the law, and we are under grace.
Many believe that it is the presence of the Bride of Christ or the Christians that preserve the peace on earth, for once the Bride is raptured, the Holy Spirit will leave. Many believe that He is on earth to deal with man to lead them to repentance and salvation and to convict Christians of their sin and strengthen their walk with Him, but once Christians are gone, the grace will be gone, and tribulation will begin.
if we read the Old Testament and see all the chance after chances HE gave HIS chosen, the Jews or Israelites and still they went right back to idol worship..you would see and understand the patient and loving God that HE is, and understand the Wrath HE had and felt...HE was patient then and HE still is...the unbelievers after New Testament times, will not see HIS wrath again until Judgement Day.... I am grateful HE finally gave up on having a chosen and opened up salvation to all through Jesus Christ the Messiah that the Jews always knew would come....some Jews accepted HIM, some didn't...some Gentiles accept HIM , some don't....it is our choice....
He has a better PR agency now.
because Jesus is in charge these days and is holding Him back..by intercession.. but thats not gonna work for too much longer
He was probably going through puberty at the time. You know how teen angst can be...
This will likely be misunderstood, but: Because *humanity* has changed!
He came to the conclusion that his 7-day experiment was a flop!
Hi Beef Chuck,
Please read your bible pertaining to the verse below.
Eph 3:2
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
KJV
We are living in a period of GRACE where every human being that has heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ has an opportunity to make a choice to recieve the gift of eternal life. It is a gift. One cannot earn it or even deserves it.
Beef it is good to ask questions. However be careful who you are asking these questions. Man sometimes will mislead you to believe his own explanations. Therefore I urge you to ask God the Holy Spirit to teach you.
John 14:26
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
KJV
If you have not received Jesus as your personal Saviour I urge you to do so.
May the Lord richly Bless you.
Regards
Shane Ramlall
Email: shane@ispace.co.za
And what makes you think he is patient now?
because he is letting us destroy ourselves to teach us a lesson.
Because now we have video cameras.
It took time to realize we are slow learners.
That is why Jesus was sent. To find out more read the new testament
I think you have picked the right word there Beef Chuck. Patience can be seen as 'waiting' or the 'willingness to supress'. Understand that God's judgement in the old Testament was now!
Atonement from sin was achieved through blood sacrifice.
God then took on the body of flesh and paid the ultimate sacrifice that not just His chosen people could access eternal life but all mankind.
He purchased back what was stolen in the Garden of Eden with His own blood. Then He says.. "He who believes on me'. It becomes a choice. The Scriptures say that one day, because of the choices we make in this life will result in a judgement. Two books are opened.. The first is the Scriptures.. we are judged from God's Word, the manual which He has given us to live our lives. Then another book is opened, The Book of Life. Who's name is written in that book will enter into the Kingdom of God.
God still is wrathful against evil. The supression of that wrath will be unleashed. Read Revelation for insight.
I think he is letting Mother Nature give us a wake up call, think about it, tsunamis, hurricanes etc and it appears to be getting worse.I'm sure there is something in the Bible about this,its a long time since I read a Bible so I'm a bit rusty on the subject.
maybe He thinks we should learn from places like sodom and gamorrah. the two cities were bombarded with fire from heaven.
are all lies unforgiveable to you?
by anonymous on January 20th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
What people do you refuse to coexist with?
by former member151654646 on March 25th, 2011
| 5 people like this
God needs blood to fix the world, but only his own has the magical power to do it. So did he give himself a body and then killed it? WTF?
by buttman on February 12th, 2011
| 2 people like this
Do people choose their sins and indiscretions or did they inherit them from their ancestors?
by Anonymous on February 13th, 2011
| 5 people like this
Why is there inconsistency in the four gaspels, pertaining to the narrative of the resurrection, and which one is the right one?
by buttman on December 19th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
You're reading If God was so wrathful in biblical times, why is he so patient now?
Comments
I concur. Good point Idne.
by Ananamiss on May 27th, 2008
Thanks, ladyhawke. I love you name. ;)
by unknown on May 27th, 2008
Killing children is not patient.
by Tahuti on November 13th, 2009