Crucial Questions: Is God Just?
Is the Lord just? Too often, we see injustice in our world. Some make sinful choices and immediately reap the consequences. Others seem to get away with it scot-free. Most troublingly, we see the consequences of sinful choices cascade upon the next generation. This was what troubled the people of Ezekiel’s day. They blamed their parents and the previous generations for all the ills of society and struggles of their lives. There was some truth in that viewpoint, but they were missing the bigger picture. God was using these circumstances to call this generation to repentance for their own sins. God wants all people to be honest in their words and faithful in their actions, just as he is. God is just, but he is also patient, and his mercy is abounding. He does not hit us over the head the moment we fall into temptation. Instead, he is forbearant—he restrains his righteous anger against sin. That patience with sinners moved him to send his Son to take our place and prompted Jesus to be our servant and sacrifice himself for our sins.
