Many people question the apparent change in God's personality and nature from the Old Covenant to the New. Here, in this text, God is reminding the Israelites that they didn't inherit the land of promise because of their good works, but because of his will. He seems to come across harsh in this text, which seems to contradict his apparent gentleness with us in the New Covenant - a covenant in which Christ emphasizes love, patience, and acceptance.

Why the seemingly dramatic personality shift? First, note that God didn't have to allow Israel to enter the Promised Land. Because of their systemic disobedience and his wrath, he very well could have left them to rot in the wilderness. Secondly, Jesus Christ (who is God incarnate) is now advocating for us. God is just as righteous and equally just as intolerant of rebellion. But we have Christ advocating for us. Thus, in God's eyes, because of his grace alone, we appear as righteous as Christ, so the frustrations that God Almighty had with ancient Israel is satiated.

Deuteronomy 9:6-7