GOD ON TRIAL: THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE JUSTICE AND MERCY OF GOD (27 OF 48)
Scripture: Genesis 18:1-11, Genesis 18:14-33, Genesis 19:1-33
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God on Trial: The Incomprehensible Justice and Mercy of God (27 of 48)
Series: Kingdom Foundations - Genesis
Patrick Edwards
Genesis 18:1-19:38
Introduction
Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Why does He allow the innocent to suffer? If God really is all-powerful then He must not be good, otherwise He would protect the helpless. Either that or He must not be all-powerful and therefore not really God. If God really does exist then He must not be a just God, for evil prospers while good and innocence suffers.
These are the accusations of the world of unbelief against God. Those outside the faith are often quick to point out the existence of evil, natural and moral, as evidence against the existence of God, saying that the absence of justice across the world proves that God is either unjust, and therefore not good, or, simply, that He doesn't exist at all. These aren't just the questions or accusations of the nonbeliever, however; each of us has often wondered these very same things ourselves, even if we haven't had the courage to admit it. Haven't you ever wondered these things like King David: ''Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?'' or ''How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?'' You see, our experiences and observations of life make us question the justice and power of God.
Moreover, even things we read in Scripture make us sometimes wonder and scratch our head. When we read through the book of Joshua and read of God's commands to the Israelites to kill every man, woman, and child, we are tempted to doubt His goodness. A couple of weeks ago, even, we raised the question of God's choice of Isaac over Ishmael; we read Paul ask about God's choice of Jacob over Esau. We can't help, as finite human beings, but to wonder at times about the goodness and justice of God, for what this issue ultimately brings into question is the justice and mercy ...
Series: Kingdom Foundations - Genesis
Patrick Edwards
Genesis 18:1-19:38
Introduction
Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Why does He allow the innocent to suffer? If God really is all-powerful then He must not be good, otherwise He would protect the helpless. Either that or He must not be all-powerful and therefore not really God. If God really does exist then He must not be a just God, for evil prospers while good and innocence suffers.
These are the accusations of the world of unbelief against God. Those outside the faith are often quick to point out the existence of evil, natural and moral, as evidence against the existence of God, saying that the absence of justice across the world proves that God is either unjust, and therefore not good, or, simply, that He doesn't exist at all. These aren't just the questions or accusations of the nonbeliever, however; each of us has often wondered these very same things ourselves, even if we haven't had the courage to admit it. Haven't you ever wondered these things like King David: ''Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?'' or ''How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?'' You see, our experiences and observations of life make us question the justice and power of God.
Moreover, even things we read in Scripture make us sometimes wonder and scratch our head. When we read through the book of Joshua and read of God's commands to the Israelites to kill every man, woman, and child, we are tempted to doubt His goodness. A couple of weeks ago, even, we raised the question of God's choice of Isaac over Ishmael; we read Paul ask about God's choice of Jacob over Esau. We can't help, as finite human beings, but to wonder at times about the goodness and justice of God, for what this issue ultimately brings into question is the justice and mercy ...
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