What is the God of the Old Testament like?

Answer 1

The description of God in The Bible varies according to author.
The Yahwist ('J' source), who is considered to have contributed to the five books of the Pentateuch, described God as anthropomorphic with human characteristics.
The Elohist ('E' source) described God as a transcendent being who required obedience and was feared by his people. According to the Elohist, people could never look at God, so he typically came in dreams or visions, but sometimes in the form of a cloud or a flame.
To the Priestly author ('P' source) God was remote and unmerciful. The role of the priests was to instruct and guide the faithful, who by total obedience could avoid the wrath of God.
Second Isaiah, in the later chapters of the Book of Isaiah, described God as merciful and forgiving.

Answer 2

A:

The God of the Old Testament differs from time to time, and according to the author who wrote of him. It is true that he was most often depicted as a wrathful God more to be feared than loved, but this was not always the case.

Writing in the Book of Genesis, the Yahwist ('J Source') always used 'YHWH' as the name for an anthropomorphic God with human characteristics, one who made promises and covenants with his chosen people. Also in the Book of Genesis, the Elohist ('E Source') always used 'Elohim' as the name for a more transcendent God who required obedience and was feared by his people. People could never look at the Elohist's God, so he typically came in dreams or visions, but sometimes in the form of a cloud or a flame. The Priestly source (P) used the names Elohim and El Shaddai to describe a remote and unmerciful God.

In the Book of Joshua, we find that God approves of, and in fact demands genocide.

Answer 3

No, God is the same in the New and Old Testaments of the Bible. The New Testament came about because Jesus was sent to Earth to atone for our sins, but God remained the same.