The thing about the Old Testament originally is that it didn't seem to allow people to be saved from their sins like the New Testament talks about. People were just killed - sometimes including babies. But at least the deaths seemed to be swift, unlike hell - well except for the Flood. (just some thoughts)
Hello again John, it's true that the OT has many more difficult passages to work through than the NT does, but I think that's because (in part anyway) what has been revealed to us in the NT about salvation was hidden from us (for the most part) in the OT (because salvation by God's grace, instead of by our feeble attempts at obedience to His commands and good works, is a truth that did not become a fulfilled reality for anyone until the Lord Jesus' death and resurrection happened about 2,000 years ago).
That said, I believe that you'll find the first prophesy about the coming Messiah or Savior to be in
Genesis 3:15, and the beginning of what theologians have called "the scarlet thread of redemption" in
Genesis 3:21 (where animals were sacrificed by God both to clothe our first parents, and to redeem them, temporarily, from their sins against Him). BTW, both the prophesy and the sacrifices for their sins happened while our progenitors were still living in the Garden of Eden (so, the redemption, forgiveness and salvation of mankind is actually something that we begin to see happening in the earliest chapters of the Genesis, on the very day that Adam and Eve sinned, in fact).
--David
p.s. - if you'd like me to, I think I may be able to sway your opinion of the OT a bit by showing you some verses/passages that speak of God's kindness and love for us as our "Savior", that show how people were saved in the OT, what they thought about their salvation, and much more. Let me know if you'd like me to do so.
In the meantime, here's one of my very favorite Psalms (by King David) about God (the only problem with it is its length). Most of the rest of the verses and passages that I'll point out to you will be FAR shorter, a sentence or two long instead (if you end up wanting me to do so, that is).
If you'd just like to read a few verses from the following Psalm, I'd recommend verses 8-14.
PSALM 103
Praise for the LORD’S Mercies.
A Psalm of David.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
17 But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
18 To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.
19 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
22 Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
