Originally posted: 01/17/2019
“Shall not the judge of all the earth deal justly?” (18:25).
In the Hebrew nation, a judge sat in the seat of authority as governor, ruler, and arbitrator. To the Judge of All the Earth, Abraham poses a rhetorical question; he already knows the answer, for Abraham is convinced of God’s just and holy character. However, when our focus becomes attached to only what is seen, we can find ourselves appraising His rule.
Consider Him, Judge of All the Earth
The Judge of All the Earth appeared to Abraham, (18:1). Again we see Him as the initiator. This truth should never grow old or cease to amaze! The Creator, the Judge (Authority, Ruler, and Arbitrator) of All the Earth, seeks us out!
We love, because He first loved us, (1 John 4:19).
The Judge of All the Earth promised a son, (18:10). This foreshadows God’s greatest promise; the promise prompted by His great love for us.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).
The Judge of All the Earth confronted Sarah’s doubt. His great love towards us will always redirect our misguided thinking back to the truth.
“Is anything too difficult for the LORD?” (18:14).
The Judge of All the Earth disclosed His intent to His chosen one, Abraham.
The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? 19 For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him,” (18:17-19).
The Judge of All the Earth responded to the outcry against grave sin, (18:20-21). Even in our fallen nature, we cry out for justice. There are numerous imprecatory Psalms that call on the LORD to bring justice against sin. In God’s perfect holy justice, there is coming a day when He will respond to the outcry.
“How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until… (Revelation 6:10-11).
The Judge of All the Earth listened to Abraham’s intercession, (18:23-32). God is also perfect in His longsuffering towards us.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance, (2 Peter 3:9).
How can we respond to Him, Judge of All the Earth?
- Notice how Abraham rushed to prepare for his honored guests. There was a sense of urgency. We too must prepare our hearts to honor His presence. May we live every day with a pressing resolve to honor Him in our determination to purposely seek Him. Ignoring heart preparation is very dangerous.
- He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD, (2 Chronicles 12: 14).
- Let us resolve to receive His promise by faith and believe in His name. The promise of Isaac is a picture of God’s great promised Son Who came to save His people from their sins.
- But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God, (John 1:12-13).
- Let us be honest before Him and confess doubt. God can handle our questions and He knows them anyway. Doubt, if left unchecked, can whittle away our confidence in His truth. Let’s bring all our uncertainties to Him, reminding ourselves that as His children, we have been given His Spirit Who leads us into all truth.
- “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;” (John 16:13).
- Let’s expect Him to disclose His life-changing truth to us. In faith and confidence, let us approach His word in anticipation that He will reveal to us exactly what we need in order to obey.
- Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, (1 Corinthians 2:12).
- We must agree with God’s evaluation of sin, not only in others, but in ourselves. Sin grieves Holy God; He cannot tolerate nor be in sin’s presence. Let us not attempt to sweep away the gravity of sin under the rug of His great and amazing love. His love is pure.
- Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You can not look on wickedness with favor, (Habakkuk 1:13).
- Let us intentionally intercede for the lost, and for those ensnared in sin (including ourselves). And when we feel as though we don’t know what or how to intercede, we can trust Him.
- In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; (Romans 8:26).
Even in His judgment as Judge of All the Earth, don’t miss God’s great LOVE in everything He does; for that is Who He is.
…for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him, (1 John 4:8b-9).
In His Great Love, the Judge of All the Earth sent His Son; not that we would be judged, but that we would be saved through faith in Him. Such Great Love!
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him,” (John 3:16-17 emphasis added).
As we consider Abraham’s intercession before Holy God, may we ever be reminded of His Great Love, so patient and so willing to delay His wrath. God never reprimanded His servant for his persistent questions; He responded in patience and love, demonstrating His heart of compassion that was ready to stay His hand.
Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten,” (18:32).
He is Judge of All the Earth, a God of Justice. But may we ever remember that His heart longs to be gracious and have compassion on us!
Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him, (Isaiah 30:18).
Oh Father God, Judge of All the Earth, we acknowledge that You are faithful in Your Justice, and we humbly thank You for Your grace and compassion that saves. May You always be our greatest desire; for how good You are to us… as we long for You, You bless us! Oh, may we always give You thanks for Your Faithful and Enduring Love!
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever, (Psalm 107:1).