Topical Bible: Judgments: Executed by Human Instrumentality

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In the biblical narrative, judgments executed by human instrumentality are instances where God uses individuals or groups to carry out His divine justice and purposes. These judgments serve as a means to uphold righteousness, correct wrongdoing, and fulfill God's covenantal promises. Throughout Scripture, God appoints leaders, prophets, and even entire nations to execute His judgments, demonstrating His sovereignty and justice.

Old Testament Examples

1. Moses and the Plagues of Egypt: One of the most prominent examples is Moses, whom God used to execute judgment upon Egypt. Through Moses, God delivered a series of plagues to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. As recorded in Exodus 7-12, these plagues were direct acts of divine judgment executed through human agency. "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh and say to him, "This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.'"'" (Exodus 9:1).

2. Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan: Joshua was appointed to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, executing judgment on the Canaanite nations. This conquest was a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and a judgment against the iniquity of the Canaanites. In Joshua 6, the fall of Jericho is a notable event where human instrumentality is evident in the execution of divine judgment.

3. Judges: Throughout the Book of Judges, God raised up leaders to deliver Israel from oppression and execute judgment on their enemies. Figures like Deborah, Gideon, and Samson were instruments of God's justice, delivering Israel from the hands of their adversaries. Judges 2:16 states, "Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of these raiders."

4. Prophets: Prophets often pronounced judgments that were carried out by human agents. For instance, Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) resulted in the execution of false prophets, demonstrating God's judgment against idolatry.

New Testament Examples

1. Jesus and the Cleansing of the Temple: In the New Testament, Jesus Himself executed judgment when He cleansed the temple, driving out the money changers and those who defiled the sacred space. This act was a direct judgment against the corruption and commercialization of worship. "Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves." (Matthew 21:12).

2. Ananias and Sapphira: In Acts 5, the early church witnessed a divine judgment executed through the apostles. Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit, serving as a sobering reminder of God's holiness and the seriousness of sin within the community of believers.

3. Paul and Elymas the Sorcerer: The Apostle Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounced judgment on Elymas the sorcerer for opposing the gospel. Elymas was struck with blindness as a result. Acts 13:11 records, "Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun."

Theological Implications

Judgments executed by human instrumentality underscore the biblical principle that God is actively involved in the affairs of humanity, using individuals to accomplish His purposes. These acts of judgment reveal God's character as just and righteous, while also highlighting the responsibility of His people to act in accordance with His will. The use of human agents in divine judgment serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the necessity of obedience to God's commands.

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Jeremiah 51:2
And will send to Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.
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Library

The Instrumentality of the Wicked Employed by God, While He ...
... the beginning, had determined what the Jews had executed. ... waiting for fortuitous
events, his Judgments meanwhile depending ... applies to the whole human race, and ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 18 the instrumentality of.htm

The Prophet Joel.
... The prophet," says he, "was describing the heavy judgments with which ... Judgment upon
the Gentiles is executed without any human instrumentality, by God ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm

Crucified, Dead, and Buried. '
... after the criminal had been otherwise executed - was reserved ... He had done with the
Human aspect of His ... Messiah, or even with the Messianic judgments, and the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xv crucified dead and.htm

Use to be Made of the Doctrine of Providence.
... He has, say they, executed the counsel of God. ... employed by the Lord himself to execute
the Judgments which he ... I speak not merely of the human race in general. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 17 use to be.htm

Britain's Mercies, and Britain's Duty
... the general massacre intended to be executed upon them by ... of our enemies, contrary
to all human probability, but ... Who can tell what further judgments are yet in ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/britains mercies and britains duty.htm

Who Can Tell?
... Putting aside the judgments of reason, and all the plans and ... that it is too terrible
for human ear to ... of past governments, when a man was executed for murder ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/who can tell.htm

The General Conference of 1840
... have been converted to God by the instrumentality of the ... the gospel, it is believed
that human agency will ... rule of Church discipline to be executed contrary to ...
/.../chapter 15 the general conference.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... the manifestation of the Deity in human form, before ... down upon the church by the
instrumentality, in the ... not stop him, manifested mercies in judgments are to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm