Devotions written each day this week will focus on the theme of Kingdom justice and will build on one another. If by chance you miss a day, click on "older posts" to read a previous entry.
Scripture Reading: Genesis 9:5-6
Explanation: As we read through the Bible, the Old Testament especially, we often see God pronouncing judgment on Gentile nations for their failure to live by the values associated with His rule. This might raise an eyebrow or two, since Israel is the nation God chose and to whom God made the values associated with His rule so clear. In other words, we might wonder: "How is it that God holds all nations accountable to the values associated with His rule? Isn't Israel the only nation that received the Law, etc.?"
The answer to questions like these is this: God has given to all nations a sufficient amount of revelation to hold them accountable for the values associated with His rule. This is especially true when it comes to the issues of idolatry (or other forms of religious perversion) and human justice. It's why these two issues are so often the basis of God's judgment, no matter which nation it is He calls to account.
Today's Scripture reading forms the foundation for the accountability of the nations for the practice of human justice. The historical context of the verses is Noah and his family starting over in the world immediately after The Flood. Conditions of the world prior to The Flood were gross violations of the values associated with God's rule. For example, Genesis 6:11 and 13 both explain that the earth "was filled with violence".
The violence of the pre-Flood world was the natural outgrowth of the values of people living at that time. People at that time settled their differences and disputes through violence, revenge, and blood feud. This meant that if someone committed a harm against another person, the person harm would respond as violently as he could, not only on the person who had harmed him but also on others of his family and friends. The idea was, if you break my arm, I might kill you in return and I might also kill three of your cousins! Obviously, settling disputes based on a system like this would lead to violence and the rule of the mighty ("Might makes right!").
This is where Genesis 9:5-6 come in. In these verses, God indicates that He will hold people accountable for human life. He also says: "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." This principle calls for just responses to harms that one person inflicts on another. It sets significant limits on the practice of revenge and blood feud. Specifically, capital punishment can only be carried out against someone who has committed a capital offense. No more taking the life of someone in revenge for a lesser harm. In addition, capital punishment can only be carried out against the person who committed the capital offense. No more revenge-taking on the offender and two or three of his cousins!
I'll write more on this tomorrow. For today, it is enough to notice that immediately after the Flood, God began to make explicit the value of justice in association with His rule. He values just and equitable responses among people regardless of the issue involved (in other words, not only in relation to murder). This does not mean there is no place for mercy. More on this later also, but for now our focus is on the fair and equitable treatment of others.
One more thing. Someone has estimated there are more than 2500 verses in the Bible that directly address the issue of fair and equitable treatment of others. We noted two of them yesterday in worship (Exodus 22:22 and 23:6). There are plenty of others. Let me challenge you to become more aware of them as you read.
Reflection question: What needs to change in your life for God to think of you as someone who reflects the value of justice in association with His rule?
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