Topical Encyclopedia The concept of divine judgment is a central theme throughout the Bible, reflecting God's righteousness, holiness, and justice. These events serve as pivotal moments where God intervenes in human history to execute justice, correct wrongdoing, and fulfill His divine purposes. Below are some key events of divine judgment as recorded in the Scriptures.The Fall of Man (Genesis 3): The first act of divine judgment occurs in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve's disobedience in eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil results in their expulsion from the garden. God pronounces curses upon the serpent, the woman, and the man, introducing sin and death into the world. Genesis 3:17-19 states, "To Adam He said, 'Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.'" The Flood (Genesis 6-9): Humanity's increasing wickedness prompts God to cleanse the earth with a great flood, sparing only Noah, his family, and pairs of every living creature. This event underscores God's intolerance of sin and His willingness to start anew with a righteous remnant. Genesis 6:5-7 records, "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart." The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11): In an act of pride and defiance, humanity attempts to build a tower reaching the heavens. God confuses their language, scattering them across the earth. This judgment highlights God's sovereignty over human endeavors and His desire for humanity to fill the earth as He commanded. Genesis 11:7-8 states, "Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city." Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19): The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah become synonymous with sin and depravity. God reveals to Abraham His plan to destroy these cities due to their grievous sin. Despite Abraham's intercession, only Lot and his daughters are spared. Genesis 19:24-25 describes, "Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground." The Plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-12): To liberate the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, God sends ten plagues upon Egypt, each demonstrating His power over the Egyptian gods and Pharaoh's resistance. The final plague, the death of the firstborn, leads to the institution of the Passover and the Exodus. Exodus 12:12 declares, "On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both man and beast—and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD." The Babylonian Exile (2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36): Due to persistent idolatry and disobedience, God allows the Babylonian Empire to conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem, and exile its people. This judgment fulfills prophetic warnings and serves as a call to repentance and faithfulness. 2 Chronicles 36:15-17 recounts, "Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD rose against His people, and there was no remedy." The Final Judgment (Revelation 20): The culmination of divine judgment is depicted in the Book of Revelation, where God judges the living and the dead. The Great White Throne Judgment results in the final separation of the righteous and the wicked, with eternal destinies determined. Revelation 20:12 states, "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books." These events of divine judgment reveal God's character and His ultimate authority over creation. They serve as reminders of the seriousness of sin, the necessity of repentance, and the hope of redemption through God's grace. |