The Purpose Of God's Strange Work

by T. W. Fullerton, of Melbourne, Australia | Category: General | Jan 1983

Divine judgement upon men is referred to in Isaiah 28:21 as God's strange work. God's judgements may cause doubts to arise in some minds about His love, mercy and goodness, but it is to the Scriptures that we must turn to find the answer to these doubts. Whether it be individuals, cities or nations, we can well ask the question, "Is there not a cause?" (We do not suggest that every calamity befalling individuals is the result of divine judgement: Job's three friends were very far astray in their assessment.) The fact that in many instances the righteous are affected by the overthrow of the wicked can raise further questions; but those who believe that there is a future time of righteous reckoning at the hands of a just and Holy Creator leave these questions until that day, when the righteous will receive their due exoneration from blame, combined with the eternal rewards of righteousness and a full recompense for suffering involved, for, "shall not the judge of all the earth do right?"

From the Old Testament we can learn why it has been necessary for the Creator to bring judgement upon men and nations. The moral condition of man is described in such scriptures as Psalms 14 and 53, and taken up by the apostle Paul in Romans chapter 3 where he describes the depths to which man has fallen thus:-"There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God ... destruction and misery are in their ways ... there is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:10-18). The picture is a solemn one. Judgements have therefore been necessary as deterrents and warnings to future generations (see 2 Peter 3 and Jude verses 7-8).

The Flood

The cause of the Flood is stated in Genes' is 6:5, where we are told: "The wickedness of man was great in the earth", and again in verse 13, "The earth is filled with violence". The cleansing of the earth by a flood of waters and the salvation of Noah and his household were intended to have the twofold effect of warning against ungodliness and illustrating the mercy of God towards the righteous. But the tendency of man is naturally towards ungodliness and to forget quickly the lessons intended to be laid to heart as the result of such judgement, for he is under the influence of a sinister power, the god of this world, who causes him to "wilfully forget" (2 Pet.3:5).

The Cities of the Plain

The lessons intended to be learned from the deluge had been forgotten. The righteous were rare upon the earth. One man, Abraham, was taken up by God to be the head of a nation for Himself, and had the honour to be called "The friend of God". Called out of his country, his kindred, and his father's house, he obeyed the call of the God of glory to be a stranger in a strange land, and a dweller in tents. But his eye was fixed upon a future glory, promised by the One who called him. With him also had gone his nephew, Lot, who, although pronounced righteous in the sight of God (2 Peter 2:7), made a mistaken choice and moved to the cities of the plain which were ripe for judgement because of their wickedness.

Genesis chapter 19 leaves us with no doubt as to the prevailing sin of

Sodom, and Jude implicates the neighbouring cities. The wickedness of this homosexual practice is indicated in Leviticus 18, where it is spoken of as one of the abominations which defile the land where it is committed. Because of this and other abominable practices the figure is used of the land "vomiting out" those who are given thereto. For the Cities of the Plain judgement was determined because the people's sin had become so completely interwoven with their social life. The judgement was to be the complete destruction of Sodom and its neighbouring city of Gomorrah. Only Lot and his household were saved. Of Lot it is recorded that he was distressed by "the lascivious life of the wicked", and he "vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds" (2 Peter 2:6-10).

Modern Application of the Law of Moses

The law of Moses has been a lasting influence for righteousness in many lands. Legislators have recognized the wisdom and justice of laws, statutes, and judgements given to Israel. It is, however, a cause for grave concern that there has been a departure from certain standards of righteousness, partly because of the clamour of an evil-doing society. The particular evil to which we specifically refer in this article was once punishable by law, but in many countries is no longer so. Every transgression and disobedience of the laws of God such as this will receive a just recompense of reward, not only in this life, but also in the life to come (Heb. 2:2). "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Eccl. 8:11).

From the Old Testament we learn the purpose for which at times certain nations have been raised up by God and why nations, themselves sometimes utterly ungodly, have been raised up for the chastisement of neighbouring nations. We draw attention to the nation of Assyria, referred to under the similitude of a rod by the prophet Isaiah: "Ho Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, the staff in whose hand is Mine indignation!" A nation or people, as a rod, is planted, it grows and develops, and in due course is, in the will of Him who planted it, strong enough in His hands to execute judgement against neighbouring transgressors of divine law. These are principles which can be learned by studying the Old Testament Scriptures.

T. W. Fullerton, of Melbourne, Australia | Jan 1983
General