Justice and the Judge

"Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25).

We have all encountered what we feel is injustice. We only perceive what is happening at this moment, and that is colored by our own prejudices. God works in the whole of human history--past, present and future--so what we see or feel happening right at this moment that seems so outrageous and unethical is set in a panorama of sacred history. It helps so much to remember this.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17). God originates good and controls evil, and that is the essence of His justice. We could go insane--indeed, some do--if we didn't believe that somewhere there is ultimate impartiality. "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny" (Psalm 73:16,17). Only God knows the end from the beginning.

He understands because He experienced the greatest injustice on earth. Still He could say, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). Perhaps this is the most ethical utterance made by Man for man. It certainly spotlights man's inhumanity to man. Yes, Father, forgive them...and forgive us, too.

"The Lord is a God who knows and by him deeds are weighed" (1 Samuel 2:3b). Only God can possibly know motives, a knowledge necessary for honorable judgment. "The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good" (Proverbs 15:3). Since we can't be everywhere and see everything, it is best that we leave the judging to God. He is holy and therefore incapable of judging from any wrong reason or rule. Our righteous God is farsighted and sees all, while we are so nearsighted, so spiritually myopic, that all we see is what is happening right now and its seeming unfairness.