Devotional: Promote Justice: Genesis 18:17-19

People want justice. At least that is what they say. So people engage in various activities that they believe promotes justice. When George Floyd was killed by a police officer there were demonstrations in several cities. People gathered by the thousands to march in the streets carrying signs and singing songs that called for justice. In Nashville, Tennessee there was a march of over 10,000 people.

African American leaders were happy because these marches included people of all races and social backgrounds. Everybody wants justice. Is marching the best way to bring about justice? I wondered if the thousands of people that marched in Nashville would do anything else. What would they do to promote justice when the march was over? I remember thinking, some of these people need to get off the streets, go home and teach their children how to act and how to treat other people. You see, I believe that justice starts at home and in the church. Justice is something that we do and it is something that ought to be demonstrated to those who do not know what justice is.

In Genesis 18 Abraham is visited by three men-apparently angels. Abraham shows them hospitality. The Lord assured Abraham that his wife Sarah would have a son just God had promised. Sarah laughed because she knew that she and Abraham were too old to have children. The angels started towards Sodom, a wicked city in the eyes of God. Two of the men went on their way towards Sodom, and the third man—the Lord talked with Abraham. He told Abraham what was going to happen to Sodom. He told Abraham what he was about to do, and he told him the reason.

The man said, “Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 18:18, NASB). It was through Abraham that the nations would learn about God and His justice. How would this happen? First, Abraham would teach his children and his household the difference between righteousness and evil. They must learn to keep the way of the Lord if there is to be righteousness and justice. Justice is possible only if people learn the way of the Lord. His way leads to righteousness and justice.

Justice is something that comes from God. Justice comes to those who get right with God. They obey His commandments so that their interactions with others are just based on the ways of God.

Prayer: Lord, we want to learn Your ways so that we can rightly promote justice.