THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW CONTRASTED 2

17 AND MOSES BROUGHT THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE CAMP TO MEET WITH GOD, AND THEY STOOD AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN.
18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.
20 THEN THE LORD CAME DOWN UPON MOUNT SINAI, ON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. AND THE LORD CALLED MOSES TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, AND MOSES WENT UP.
21 AND THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, “GO DOWN AND WARN THE PEOPLE, LEST THEY BREAK THROUGH TO GAZE AT THE LORD, AND MANY OF THEM PERISH.
22 ALSO LET THE PRIESTS WHO COME NEAR THE LORD CONSECRATE THEMSELVES, LEST THE LORD BREAK OUT AGAINST THEM.”
Exodus 19:17-22 (NKJV)

18 FOR YOU HAVE NOT COME TO THE MOUNTAIN THAT MAY BE TOUCHED AND THAT BURNED WITH FIRE, AND TO BLACKNESS AND DARKNESS AND TEMPEST,
19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.
20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.”
21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)
22 BUT YOU HAVE COME TO MOUNT ZION AND TO THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, TO AN INNUMERABLE COMPANY OF ANGELS,
23 TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN WHO ARE REGISTERED IN HEAVEN, TO GOD THE JUDGE OF ALL, TO THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT,
24 TO JESUS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT, AND TO THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING THAT SPEAKS BETTER THINGS THAN THAT OF ABEL."
Hebrews 12:18-24 (NKJV)

What then has brought the difference between the God of the old testament and that of the new testament? Has He changed?
What could have happened or brought the change we are seeing in Him? It is established in the Bible that God changes not. He is the same, whilst the heavens and the earth would be changed, He remains the same and His years will not fail (Hebrews 1:10-12).
If that is the case, What has then happened that made it look as If God has changed?
The answer is the sacrificial death of Christ Jesus on the cross of Calvary, It brought the whole change in what could be called or seen in God's relationship with mankind generally (Romans 5:8,11; 2 Corinthians 5:19,21).
Mankind would not have been able to access God If not for Christ Jesus' substitutionary death and resurrection (Romans 4:25; 5:1,2; Ephesians 2:12,13). God is dreadful and could not tolerate or behold sin. So whoever would come closer to Him must be impeccably pure (Psalm 24:3,4).

In that Exodus 19, God severally told Moses to go and warn the people not to break the barrier and come to the mountain or peep to look at Him, God (Exodus 19:10-15; 21).
God had first of all told Moses to warn the people; consecrate them and prepare them to meet with Him in verse 10 to 13 and Moses descended from the mountain to do that in verses 14 and 15 of that Exodus 19. Then, in verse 21, God sent Moses back to go and warn them again.
We could see that the relationship of God with the Israelites, those who were called His people, was very strict and His laws were stringent—there was no cordiality of Father-son or Father-daughter relationship as being presented and taught in the new testament.

What is shared here is one of the reasons why Jesus' teaching was strange and foreign to the people, the Israelites, because the God He, Jesus, was trying to present or introduce to them was not the God they used to know. They were God's slaves, not sons and daughters, in their relationship with God. So, when Jesus came calling Himself the Son of God, It was strange to them. It was an abomination to them, in fact, they wanted to stone Him (John 10:30,31). Saying, He, Jesus, was equating Himself with God, trying to make Himself God (John 10:32,33).

You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Should there be any sickness in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' mighty name.
Peace.
TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!