One of the concepts that I have heard mentioned that convinces people that God was very different in the Old Testament is "an eye for an eye". Most feel like this is extreme and critical, demonstrating a very vengeful and judgmental God. Not much room for mercy and grace in a statement like that. How can the same Jesus who was all about forgiveness and cheek-turning ever be a proponent of this? That's a pretty fair question. In our culture, with its developed system of justice and ingrained Christian heretige, an "eye for an eye" seems barbaric and backward, as far away from a merciful Father in Heaven as could be. But that is in our culture.
The Middle East can still be a rather...radical place. For a culture to hold such strong beliefs that they can be motivated to blow up innocents in passional pursuit of them is very foreign to the western world. That is now. Four thousand years ago, things were even more intense. Laws and systems of justice were in their infancy if developed at all. Judgments and punishments were at the whim of a ruler or people group. Whole tribes of people could be wiped out over land boundaries and border markers. If you ticked off your neighbor, you could come home and find your family dead. Definitely a rough time.
God was having none of that! When He established the nation of Israel to demonstrate to the world who He was, He introduced laws of justice. "An eye for an eye" was one of those. No longer could you slaughter you neighbor because you thought he was playing on your side of the fence. It was not ok burn someones house down if they stole your goat. Nope, the punishment had to fit the crime. There could no longer be excessive judgement. There would be justice. Suddenly, "an eye for an eye" doesn't seem so bad. Instead, it seems consistent with the good and just God we can easily relate to.
In the book of Matthew, Jesus does talk about this concept, only He kicks it up a bit. He ackknowledges "an eye for an eye" but further suggest that other contriversial phrase, "turn the other cheek." This isn't God changing His mind and abolishing His earlier command. This is God teaching us about forgiveness. Originally, God had to teach us justice. Now He is teaching us mercy. It is the evolution of a concept, not the dismissal of the earlier part.
Look, God doesn't change. His word is clear about that part. We however do, and Father has been faithful to lead us into truth as we can process it. That's why the bible has to read in context of history and of itself. This prevents us from making snap judgements about who He is and allows for a richer understanding of the truth that He has given to us. So do yourself a favor, read the whole thing. Don't allow yourself to be influenced by another's criticism of the bible without exploring it for yourself. Study it. Research its setting. Develop a big picture. You will discover that God is bigger and better than you ever imagined. And that will change your life.
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