So you're saying the same God can reveal Himself differently, to different people? Well that sure would explain a lot, that unbelievers here typically object to
Sure, I suppose in various places it speaks of such a thing
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him,
and will manifest myself to him.
I mean look at the wicked guy in the parable, he sure wasnt merciful (ie handed over to the tormentors) so did He manifest himself as merciful to the actions of the unmerciful? Well, I suppose one could say, yes, because the wicked servant was at first the forgiven servant, however judgment without mercy is shown rendered in that he shewed no mercy after the fact. There was a TILL in that parable.
However, Jesus said be ye merciful as He is merciful. But adds thus will he do unto you likewise (and it related to mercy).
However, I get how thats harder to see in the OT
For example here...
1Sam 15:3
Now go and smite Amalek,
and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
But of you follow the story, for example we see ...
Duet 25:17
Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;
Duet 25:18
How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary;
and he feared not God.
So he determined...
Duet 25:19
Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it,
that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven;
thou shalt not forget it.
So he says...
1Sam 15:2
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel,
how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
Then here (again) its continuing...
1Sam 15:3
Now go and smite Amalek,
and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
Vessels for his wrath here...(and the whole thing with Saul)
1Sam 28:18
Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
So Samuel takes care of it saying
1Sam 15:3 And Samuel said,
As thy sword hath made women childless,
so shall thy mother be childless among women.
And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
Which is...
Lev 24:20 Breach for breach,
eye for eye,
tooth for tooth:
as he hath caused a blemish in a man,
so shall it be done to him again.
And...
Duet 19:21
And thine eye shall not pity;
but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Wheras now Jesus author of the New covenant says...
Mat 5:38
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and
a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39
But I say unto you,
That ye resist not evil: but
whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek,
turn to him the other also.
So there is a "But I say unto you"
I cant say I know everything nor could answer for everything, I do know over time my questions little by little have eventually been answered. So I too have questions on things, and I dont mind my questions.
Mine would be why war generation after generation, that type thing. What am I not getting, that sorta thing.