God of Wrath or God of Grace?

Sodom and Gomorrah

God, in the Old Testament, is frequently characterized as the "God of Wrath" while many see Him as the "God of Grace" in the New Testament. Yet, Scriptures tells us, just about as frequently, the He is unchanging (Job 23:13, Heb 6:17), the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Heb 13:8 ). Is this true? Does He change in character between the Old Testament and the New? 

Nehemiah falls near the very end of the Old Testament as the Persian Empire has conquered Babylon and the Jews are being allowed to return to Jerusalem. The returning exiles come in three waves, the last wave led by Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra take responsibility for reestablishing worship and sacrifices in the Temple while Nehemiah oversees getting the city in order and rebuilding the walls. 

In Nehemiah ch 11, we see  the re-population of the city, starting with those who descended from families who lived in the city during the time of David re-establishing the continuity of the ancestral faith. Nehemiah brings them to live in the city in this order; the leaders, the priests, the levites, the gatekeepers and watchers. Land was apportioned outside the city, the workers and servers in the Temple were provided for. Those descendants of the two tribes that occupied this area previously, Judah and Benjamin, are relocated to their land. 

The genealogies of the priests, Levites and the High Priest are verified in ch 12, affirming their qualifications to fill those offices. The Jews are being very careful to observe services in the Temple according to the law. The walls are dedicated during an elaborate ceremony giving thanks to God for His provision and protection. Contributions are made to support those who serve in the Temple. This will be an ongoing practice as was established when Joshua apportioned the land to the twelve tribes,  

The law is read in  ch 13. The people are convicted that foreigners who were forbidden to live among them are doing so, sworn enemies of Judah, Ammonites and Moabites. They are deported. By this point, Judah has been redeemed and restored, the Jews have been delivered from captivity, once again, and their relationship with God is refreshed and renewed.  

Then Nehemiah leaves to go back to the king of Persia. 

Oh, ohhhhh!

While he is gone, the people backslide! Tobiah  (remember him? compatriot of Shanballat, the Samaritan and enemy of Jerusalem in Neh 4:7?) is given a room to live in, in the Temple, the room that was allocated to storing the tithe for the Levites and priests!  What's more, people are working on the Sabbath! Foreign merchants are selling goods on the Sabbath, in Jerusalem, right under the noses of those left in charge! Nehemiah chastises the leaders and begins cleaning things up. It's not easy, though. The merchants are sneaky and the people want the merchandise! Furthermore, the people are intermarrying again, Ammonites, Moabites and Philistines (Ashdod). This has been a struggle with these folks ever since they took possession of the Promised Land. They begin to marry the natives. Then they begin to worship pagan gods. Then there are consequences, usually being taken captive and/or falling under attack. Yet, here they are again, repeating the old, familair pattern of sin. It's absolutely incredible.

Nehemiah struggles to clean it all up and re-establish order. He concludes by asking God to remember him, ending his book and praying that Gid will reaward his efforts. On earth, Nehemiah has little to show for all his work but he has the proper perspective, he does it all for God.  

What an amazing indictment of the leaders and the people of Judah, who were given such amazing grace and so easily take it for granted, slipping back into sinful behavior. Sadly, the repeating pattern of blessing, sin, grace is not over. Malachi has much to reveal about that. 

If we see anything at all in the Old Testament, as we come to its end, we should see God's unending grace to those who are unable to make themselves holy through their own efforts. The Jews are constantly blessed then fall back into sin. God  incessantly rescues them, showing them grace with every stumble, refining them, never giving up on them, always there for them, loving them, exhibiting supernatural patience with them. Lest we become judgmental of Israel, we should see that their story is our story. The same unchanging, all-powerful, loving, patient

and gracious God of Israel is our God and savior as well. 

Thank the Lord for revealing His grace in such a sweeping and epic story as we find in the Old Testament. Thank Him that the Jewish people are, in so many ways, normal human beings, stumbling through life, making mistakes and, in some cases, repenting of them and being blessed. Thank God for His patient love in caring for them and for His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to them, in spite of themselves and not because of themselves.

They are the shadow of us, our template for a relationship with an ever loving, ever gracious, unchanging God. Thank our Father in Heaven that He is both a God of wrath and a God of grace, pouring His wrath out on all who oppose Him. We get down on our knees in thanks that, while we deserve His wrath, He chose to vent its full fury upon His only Son, that we who believe in Him might be recipients of His never-ending grace.