Is God fair? Obviously, we should be concerned about the answer to that question, and many are, even in Bible times (Ezekiel 18:25).
When we consider the law that God dictated to Moses for the Hebrews (Exodus 20 – Deuteronomy 34), unfairness may rise in our minds. Why did God have His own chosen people back then? Why was the law for them so strict? For example, why couldn’t they wear clothes made of different fabrics (Deut. 22:11)? The “law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), for all mankind since Christ’s death, isn’t nearly so particular.
However, even in the Mosaic Law we constantly see the true justice of God. When Moses gave the order of how the Promised Land was to be divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, each tribe (the family descended from one of Israel’s [Jacob’s] twelve sons) received an area of land that was to be further divided amongst the current fathers of that tribe. There was a problem, though, a man named Zelophehad only had daughters. Were they to receive nothing to have for the future generations of their father? We see God’s fairness when Moses consulted with Him on this matter (Numbers 27:1-11; Joshua 17:1-6) and special provision was made for them.
Another incident arose concerning the Passover feast. All Israel was to gather for it on the fourteenth day of their first month. But there were some men who were “unclean” because of a dead body they apparently touched and were unable to partake of the feast. These men didn’t understand why they could not participate, so Moses again consulted with God, and special provision was made for them to celebrate the Passover in the second month (Numbers 9:6-13).
In case you haven’t noticed, people are getting more and more proud and self-righteous, even to the point of questioning God’s authority, and further, His existence. This may be having a negative impact on Christians in light of the fact that a final Judgment Day is coming for all. “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:11-12 NKJV)”
Should we feel anxious about that moment? Does God know what He is doing? Faithful Christians should feel completely at ease in trusting the power and wisdom of God’s judgment. The only anxiety we should feel is if we are not faithful. Are you?
Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ