The Role Of Mercy In The Old Testament

Mercy is the compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. God is one is being known for being merciful but the mercy he show in the old testament versus the new testament are vastly different. It can be seen evidently in the Old Testament in genesis four that god is merciful and forgiving versus in the New Testament depicted in Jerimiah forty four he is more relentless and unforgiving. The Old Testament depicts god as forgiving and trusting while in the New Testament he is more vengeful. His treatment of sinners changes completely whether it’s for the better or not we will never know. One of the first major sins depicted in the Old Testament was the first murder in Genesis. In which Cain killed his brother Abel because he was driven mad by jealousy. He was jealous that god favored Abel’s sacrifice of fruit from the ground over his portions of fat. God saw Cain was angry and warned him to do the right thing or sin was ready to consume him. And it did
leading to Abel’s murder and Cain’s somewhat lenient punishment for this sin which is depicted as the most horrendous was he was no longer able to grow crops or have anybody kill him. Also his curse made it so who ever killed him would suffer vengeance seven times over. Cain was even able to start a new family and build a city showing the extent of god’s mercy on Cain for committing the first murder. Depicted in the New Testament one of the instances where gods supposed mercy seemed extremely harsh was in Jeremiah forty four.
In this scripture God was furious that Jews were worshiping other gods instead of him. It is shown Jeremiah was a prophet who forewarned the Jews to stop lighting incense in name of other gods and worshipping them. God even went as far to threaten the Jews with famine, war and death even then the Jews did not listen. The Jews mock, threaten and imprison the prophet continually for approximately 40 years. Until his prophecy of what god will do would came true, when Nebuchadnezzar defeats the Jews. After this the temple is destroyed the city is set to fire. Jews are left with two choices stay in Jerusalem under Babylonian rule or flee to Egypt. The Jews consult Jeremiah who say god would forgive them if they stay in Jerusalem under Babylonian rule and they would flourish as people but if they went to Egypt they will be punished and
perish. In conclusion god showed Cain mercy for his sin of murder but did not show mercy for those who continuously disregarded him and prayed to other gods. What made god forgive a murder but not a whole group of people who believed in another god. Although god warned the Jews of their misbehavior was it not petty of him to punish the Jews with the pillaging and murdering of their people. The Old Testament portrayed a god who was forgiving and tolerant of his ignorant people. While the New Testament showed him intolerant of those who didn’t believe in him also unforgiving of children and those who didn’t understand what was happening.