When I read the Old Testament, all I see is love. I see God creating divine and loving provision for His beloved and His beloved doubting, complaining and running away. Then I see God extending more divine love and provision and His people failing again and again to honor it.
He says He loves them, that He wants to give them everything and intimately provide for them. They need only listen and obey. They don’t listen and they don’t obey, they exalt themselves and other gods. There are laws and more laws, prophets and more prophets, miracles and more miracles—all to reconcile the people to Him.
“I AM the LORD your God!”
In the New Testament, God makes the perfect provision for His children’s broken, sinful, estranged state. He sends His son to be their sin offering. They no longer have to offer their spotless lamb, He has offered His own. They need only stand under the love of Jesus and receive His wholeness, His healing, His strength and His unfailing, overflowing, all-encompassing, everlasting love.
He is the Lord, my God!
Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever; And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever; Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:23-26
Meeting God at the Park 