How can we ensure justice in a world that "sold a girl for wine"? Setting the Scene Joel 3:3 exposes a shocking transaction: “They cast lots for My people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute; they sold a girl for wine to drink”. The verse brings into sharp focus a world willing to devalue a human life for a momentary pleasure. That same spirit surfaces in modern trafficking, exploitation, and systemic injustice. Scripture not only diagnoses the problem but also prescribes the way forward. The Heart of God for Justice • God’s character is righteous and just (Deuteronomy 32:4). • He hears the cries of the oppressed (Exodus 3:7). • He identifies Himself as Father to the fatherless and Defender of widows (Psalm 68:5). • His justice is not abstract; it demands concrete action (Isaiah 1:17). Principles to Ensure Justice Today 1. Recognize God-given dignity. • Genesis 1:27 reminds us every person bears God’s image. • Dehumanization ends when we view each life as sacred property of the Creator. 2. Speak for those who cannot speak. • Proverbs 31:8–9: “Open your mouth for those with no voice… defend the cause of the needy”. • Silence in the face of injustice is complicity; articulate truth in public, legal, and online spaces. 3. Confront systems of exploitation. • Isaiah 10:1–2 condemns leaders who write oppressive decrees; believers must challenge policies that facilitate trafficking. • Vote, advocate, and petition so laws protect the vulnerable (Romans 13:3–4). 4. Support and restore victims. • James 1:27 defines pure religion as visiting “orphans and widows in their distress”. • Partner with ministries that provide shelter, counseling, and vocational training. 5. Practice personal righteousness. • Micah 6:8: “He has shown you… what is good… to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”. • Integrity in business, relationships, and sexuality closes the door to exploitation. 6. Rely on Christ’s redemptive justice. • At the cross, Jesus bore injustice to secure ultimate justice (1 Peter 2:24). • His resurrection guarantees a coming judgment where every wrong is rectified (Acts 17:31). Courageous Examples in Scripture • Moses confronted Pharaoh’s systemic oppression (Exodus 5–11). • Esther used her position to save her people from genocide (Esther 4–8). • Paul challenged a culture that treated slaves as property, calling a runaway brother (Philemon 16). Living It Out in Community • Form accountability groups that pray, study, and mobilize for local justice initiatives. • Mentor at-risk youth, breaking cycles that traffickers exploit. • Give generously; earthly resources advance heavenly justice (2 Corinthians 9:8–11). • Keep the return of Christ in view: “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). Until that day, the people of God answer Joel’s outrage by becoming vessels of the very justice the Lord loves. |
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