The Old Testament Genesis- Jeremiah (well not quite everything in between)

Before the first session we were asked to think about the following question:

'how would you answer Dawkins or anyone else who said that the God of the OT was a vengeful, violent, and wrathful deity?'  Truth be told, I don't know.  The Old Testament is always something that I've struggled with.  The Old Testament God doesn't seem to marry well with The God of the New Testament, I've often thanked God that I was born in the time AD and don't need to follow all those rules, regulations and endure all the wars etc.  

Our first session focused on Genesis, the book that covers the great flood which ended most of the people on Earth- give or take a Noah or two.  From this we are supposed to identify a God of Grace, and a God of Blessing? 

I find this a little hard to swallow, however, I've always found great comfort in the seemingly simple sign of a rainbow.  A while ago I was studying for an MA and I really struggled to fit in, one morning I was heading to my course after a pretty bad nights sleep and was not in a good place.  When trying to leave the house my front door stuck (it would do this every now and again) and I began to get upset.  Eventually I left the house and getting into my car I noticed the most beautiful rainbow and I just knew that everything was going to be ok.  I guess that maybe the God of the OT is offering some of that 'tough love' that people so often talk about. 

Anyhoo- to sum up, maybe we need to focus on the positive results of negative times, not to be too clichéd, maybe we really do need to focus on the silver linings?