Is God Mean?

Or is he nicer than we are?

There is this idea that there are two different Gods  — one in the Old Testament and a different one in the New Testament. Another way to put this is to say that until Jesus came along, God was in a bad mood. After Jesus died atoning for mankind’s sins, God was in a better mood.

Of course it is oversimplified and I think mistaken, but it represents the opinion of a lot of people — mostly those who believe the whole thing is mythical or who believe their pain and loss are essentially God’s fault.

After all, since God is Almighty and can do anything he wants, why have these bad things happened to me or those I love?

Do I love people more than God does?

There is no quick and slick answer that resolves all confusion and pain in this area, but there are some interesting hints to God’s true nature.

Let’s look at one from the Old Testament that involves an encounter between God and Abraham.

“Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the LORD asked. “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”

So the LORD told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”

The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham. Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

And the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”

Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”

And the LORD said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”

Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”

And the LORD replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”

“Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”

And the LORD replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”

Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”

And the LORD replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”

Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”

And the LORD replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

When the LORD had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.

Genesis 18:17-33 (NLT)

I think Abraham stopped at sparing ten righteous people if a city of wicked people had accomplished enough wickedness to deserve to die because that’s as far as he could justify it himself. In other words Abraham was okay at this trade-off scenario of giving up ten righteous people in order to eradicate a city of wickedness. But we still don’t know God’s line — except to say it is lower than Abraham’s.

All this to say — whenever someone tries to indict God for being mean, heartless, and cruel, just remember, he is more patient and tolerant than you and I probably are.