Genesis 18:25 (ESV) -- Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?

Often in our world today people like to pontificate about what “their God” would never do. This way of talking about God usually entails freestyling about the character and actions of God detached from Scripture’s testimony. Anytime someone says “their God” it is unfortunate that they speak of a customized version of a “god” that thinks like them, believes what they believe, and fits neatly into their lifestyle. 

This is not the case in our passage today. When Abraham is interacting with God in Genesis 18, he is speaking about what is true of God, namely, that God is righteous. He cannot do wrong. God always acts in a way consistent with His character.

Abraham wonders if God is going to destroy the righteous people of Sodom and Gomorrah with the wicked. He says, “Far be it from you to do such a thing.” In Abraham’s understanding of God, there is no way God could sweep away the righteous along with the wicked. That is not justice. For the righteous to suffer the same fate as the wicked would be unbecoming of God. Then Abraham makes this proclamation, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” This is a question, but it is more of a statement. Abraham knows that God is the Judge of all the earth. He is a righteous and just judge. There is no way the Judge of all the earth would commit injustice.

Abraham was correct.

God is righteous in all His ways.
He cannot do injustice or evil.
He always acts consistently
with His character.
We can count on that.

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In the end, everyone in Sodom and Gomorrah was wiped out. There were none who were righteous, no not one. However, Abraham’s words remind us today that God’s character is consistent in every moment. The Judge of all the earth will do right. You can rest in that today for your circumstances. 

Reflection & Journal
- Why do so many people try to customize God to their liking? In what ways do you do that? 
- How does the righteousness of God comfort us in this life? What are some ways it helps us? 
- What are some examples of things we know the Judge of all the earth will do right by?

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