“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25
How can one reconcile the fact that God is, as Abraham declared, “the Judge of all the earth,” and yet, Jeremiah would declare: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness?” (Lam. 3:22,23) Again, the answer to this question lies not in the capacity, or ability of man to come up with a “just” and “equitable” solution. Every inquiry concerning the things of God and eternity must begin with God Himself, as revealed in Scripture. Even then, only a slight glimpse of Gods’ righteousness, HIs mercy, and compassion, can be grasped. How then must we begin? What must we see and grasp of a true, though limited, vision of God in Christ, so that we do not diminish the fact that He IS the “Judge of all the earth,” and that He will be so perfectly, and yet be also the God of compassion, who is ever seeking to save the lost, deliver the captive sinner from the bondage to sin, self, and Satan, to give that one Life eternal?
In the book of Genesis we are immediately confronted with the God of creation, who speaks and His will is done, even bringing into existence “matter” so that worlds are made, and the design and purpose for earth and man upon it, are set in motion. The Apostle Paul would write long after Moses wrote the account of creation: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements, and His ways past finding out.” (Romans 1:33) By Paul’s declaration, being led by the Spirit, man is brought face to face with that which he cannot understand and grasp, it being beyond his capacity to do so. However, God has chosen, in Christ and by the Spirit to reveal the “things of God,” so that in knowing the truth, and looking unto Jesus, faith is born to receive that which God desires to give. He gives this “vision,” or simply, perception of God according to the measure of God’s wisdom given to every individual, according to their calling, but also with reference to their faithfulness to believe the truth revealed in Scripture. The issue of God being Judge, and yet, compassionate, is revealed and embedded in the truth that He is not only the wise and perfectly sovereign Creator, but that everything He does is “good,” whether man thinks is right or not. For those who look at the creation, or rather at the God of the creation, there is the consistent revelation that all of Creation is good, because God is good. In God’s dealings with Adam and Eve, we discover not only the marvelous wisdom, power, and love, with which He created man in His image, but we are brought face to face with His compassion and mercy. Before the Fall of man, there was the fullest experience of the love of God, for God was able to reveal to the man and woman the fulness of His joy in communion with them. After the Fall, man’s perception of God’s goodness was tainted by sin and selfishness. The concept of God’s goodness was taken, and twisted, and deformed. This was due to man’s sinful heart, and that bent downward away from the true and highest, holy and pure meaning that God had intended. What would it take for man to grasp, and understand, something of the goodness of God, even in His judgment and unfailing compassion?
His judgement would be revealed first in Adam and Eve being expelled from the Garden of Eden, separated from the Tree of Life, and becoming subject to the effects and domination of sin. Thousands of years later, by a cross on Calvary, God the Father, the judge of all the earth, would judge His perfect Son in the place of lost and dying sinners. His perfect judgement would fall upon Christ. His compassion would save the lost.
Dear Father, Open our eyes today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.