That's not fair.
My husband reads the Bible to our family in the evenings. We are reading through I Samuel. Last night he read chapter 2. In verses 22-25 is Eli's rebuke of his wicked sons. Verse 25 says, "But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the LORD desired to put them to death."
Is that fair?
...It is Perfectly fair.
The Lord essentially chose to leave them in their natural state of wickedness, thus they in turn chose not to obey Eli. The Lord chose not to extend unmerited favour towards them. He chose NOT for them undeserved compassion but deserved justice.
GOD DOES NOT OWE MERCY!
God is NEVER obligated to be merciful to rebellious people. And God is NEVER unjust... He is both justice and mercy.
Why then instead of justice, does God pour out His grace? Why does this perfectly holy God even tolerate sin? Why do we exploit God's gracious forebearance and expect His mercy?
IF GOD WERE TO DEAL WITH ME ACCORDING TO JUSTICE (if God were to be PERFECTLY fair), I WOULD PERISH IMMEDIATELY!
Is that fair?
...It is Perfectly fair.
The Lord essentially chose to leave them in their natural state of wickedness, thus they in turn chose not to obey Eli. The Lord chose not to extend unmerited favour towards them. He chose NOT for them undeserved compassion but deserved justice.
GOD DOES NOT OWE MERCY!
God is NEVER obligated to be merciful to rebellious people. And God is NEVER unjust... He is both justice and mercy.
Why then instead of justice, does God pour out His grace? Why does this perfectly holy God even tolerate sin? Why do we exploit God's gracious forebearance and expect His mercy?
IF GOD WERE TO DEAL WITH ME ACCORDING TO JUSTICE (if God were to be PERFECTLY fair), I WOULD PERISH IMMEDIATELY!
posted by 4given at 2/01/2006
2 Comments:
What is "fair", anyway? We are continually pointing out to our children that God does not command us to be "fair" to them, nor does he promise to be "fair" to us (thankfully).
My husband has what I think is a unique definition of the word "fair". He says that "fair" means that someone else has something you want. Think about it from a child's perspective. If you are whining about something that you want, it is usually because someone else has it and you don't! "It's not FAIR!!"
Thank you, God, for not being fair to us.
Sheshe
I'm glad God isn't "fair" in the sense of giving us what we deserve.
Otherwise, like you, I'd be toast.
We need to remember this. I love that passage for that reason. It was disastrous for the sons, but a warning to us.
Also connected is Ezekiel 18:25-
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not right ' Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?"
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