Divine Justice and Human Responsibility
Genesis 18:16–21 (NASB95)
16Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. 17The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18since 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.” 20And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21“I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
The topic of judging is always a hot topic among Christians today. The narrative that leads us into the Sodom and Gomorrah situation helps us understand the place of judging in the life of a Christian.
God calls His people to live out justice and righteousness, not just for themselves, but as a witness to the world. The story of Abraham and Sodom shows that God’s justice is both thorough and compassionate, and that actual sin runs deeper than outward acts; it is a failure to love God and neighbor.
Genesis 18:19 is a significant verse, but its significance is easily missed. In that one verse, God explains what Abraham’s purpose is. What is his purpose? To do what is just and right. His purpose is to keep the way of the Lord and to teach future generations to do the same. This calling is not just for Abraham’s family. It extends to Israel and, by faith, to the church today. God’s people are meant to be a beacon of justice and righteousness in a world that often chooses the opposite.
Notice how this verse precedes what happens next – the Sodom and Gomorrah narrative. God does not just tell Abraham that his purpose is to do what is just and right, and to teach it to others, but God is about to show Abraham what justice and righteousness look like.
The first step, shown by God’s example, is to base His judgment on facts and not hearsay. The Lord “goes down” to see for Himself what the people in these cities are like. What does Christ tell us in the Gospels? He teaches us that you will know if people are “good trees” or “bad trees” by their actions. “By their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20) This is what we see the Lord teaching Abraham here. The Lord is going down to Sodom and Gomorrah to see for Himself before judgment is decided.
God’s words to Abraham set the stage for what follows with Sodom and Gomorrah. God does not act in secret or without reason. He shows Abraham what true justice looks like. God listens to the outcry of those suffering in Sodom. He investigates before acting, showing that His justice is never rash or arbitrary. God’s actions protect those being harmed and hold the guilty accountable. This is a model for Abraham, Israel, and the church. God’s justice is not just about punishment. It is about defending the vulnerable and setting things right.
But here is my question to you: How can we do that if we believe that we shouldn’t or are incapable of judging between right and wrong? Between righteousness and wickedness?
Many assume Sodom and Gomorrah’s sin was only sexual rebellion. The Bible gives a deeper answer. Genesis says their sin was very great. Ezekiel 16:49-50 explains that Sodom’s real sins were arrogance, pride, and neglect of the poor and needy. Their self-centeredness led to observable wickedness: sexual perversion, violence, and a lack of concern for others (we will see this in the next chapter). They loved themselves more than God or neighbor. And because they loved themselves, they rejected God and preyed upon their neighbors. They broke the two greatest commandments: to love God and to love neighbor. Their way of life showed this failure in every area.
God’s dealings with Sodom and Gomorrah are a warning and a lesson. He shows Abraham and us what justice and righteousness look like in action. God hears the cries of the oppressed. He acts to protect and to judge fairly. He calls His people to do the same. The church today must remember that our calling is not just to believe the right things, but to do what is right and just. This requires us to be able to judge between right/wrong and good/bad. We must care for the poor, defend the vulnerable, and teach the next generation to walk in God’s ways. Our faith should be visible in how we treat others, especially those who cannot help themselves.