What can we learn about God's justice from Judges 1:25? Setting the Scene • The tribe of Joseph is attacking the Canaanite city of Luz (later called Bethel). • Verse 24 records that spies meet a local man and promise kindness if he shows the secret entrance. • Verse 25: “And when he showed them the entrance to the city, they put the city to the sword, but they released the man and all his family.” Key Observations • Immediate, decisive judgment falls on the city’s inhabitants: “they put the city to the sword.” • One man and his family are spared because he responded to Israel’s request and showed the way in. • The Israelites keep their word; the promise of mercy is honored alongside the act of judgment. What God’s Justice Looks Like Here 1. Justice includes both judgment and mercy. – Judgment: Canaan’s sins had reached full measure (Deuteronomy 7:1-2). – Mercy: The informer is spared, just as Rahab was spared in Joshua 6:25. 2. Justice is personal as well as corporate. – The city as a whole is destroyed, yet a single household receives life. 3. Justice honors covenant promises. – Israel’s oath to the man is seen as sacred; breaking it would have dishonored the Lord’s name (Joshua 9:18-20). 4. Justice is rooted in God’s character. – “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne” (Psalm 89:14). – God consistently rewards those who bless His people (Genesis 12:3). 5. Justice separates the willing from the rebellious. – The informer aligns himself—however imperfectly—with God’s people and is spared; the rest remain hostile and perish (compare Romans 2:4-11). Lessons for Today • God’s justice is never blind fury; it always makes room for genuine faith and obedience, even from unexpected people (cf. 2 Peter 3:9). • Promises made in God’s name are binding. Integrity in keeping our word reflects His just nature. • Judgment and mercy are not opposite poles but two sides of the same righteous coin; both are necessary to reveal God’s holiness and goodness. • Individual response matters. Though cultures or communities may be under judgment, anyone can still find mercy by turning toward God’s purposes (Proverbs 11:17). |
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