I don't believe that is correct. You should read what Huston Smith has to say on Judaism. It was the opposite of that. I think the confusion about this lies in the fact that if one - who did not lead a saintly life - came face to face with the all powerful supreme being fear would probably be an emotion many would feel. For instance you have denied God - I'm assuming for most of your life - so wouldn't you feel a little scared when you discovered everything you believed was wrong and God really does exist? I think the same would apply to believers who with their words acknowledged God but with their actions did not. Because really it is our actions that tell others what we believe rather than our words.Where the Old Testament gets it wrong
They pushed a God to be feared
New Testament pushed a Loving God