At the risk of being blasphemous - I would have to agree that god of the OT is a frightening Ogre! His people are wandering in the desert for 40 years and get a little hungry and thirsty. Humans who get hungry and thirsty - DAmn them - I'm gonna make them wander around lost in the dessert now! Oh-- you're hungry are you? Here -- eat manna three times a day every day for years and years -- that'll teach you to be hungry and doubt me...God of love that I am.
Then, what of the "land flowing with milk and honey?" I guess at the end of all that crap Anything would look good!
Then all of the sudden, in the NT, when Jesus comes on the scene -- God is all about love, mercy and forgiveness. Go figure. Sounds kind of Jeckyl and Hyde to me.