My first big heartbreak was over the infidelity of a boy I dated in high school. Of course, one doesn’t know anything about love or dating at the age of 16, but those emotions are real and hard-hitting no matter what age you are at! My innocence was shattered, and like many other teenagers, I spiralled into feelings of worthlessness, self-pity, and self-doubt. God used that low in my life to draw my attention to Him, and thus began my ongoing discovery of my identity in Christ.
Yet, my heart yearned for justice and vengeance too (you know how that goes). I wanted vindication and undoing of that hurt. What I was not aware of at that time was the truth of the other side of the story. It was more an issue of abuse by an older woman than a choice this boy had. So, it turned out that his side of the story needed grace, healing, and vindication, too.
How does God’s justice stand true when everyone has a story?
Through the years, I have learned that everybody has a story that is personal, real, and important to them. Relativism presents the worst case for justice, because those who are doing wrong very often have also been wronged. Their actions are shaped by pain, loss, or the injustices they have endured. This tricky position calls for compassion but also blurs the line between right and wrong.
If every sin can be justified by the suffering behind it, justice loses its footing. Justice cannot exist without a fixed moral standard. That is why God’s justice stands apart—it is rooted in truth that does not shift with circumstances. God’s justice is not blind to pain, but it is not swayed by it either. Only He can judge with righteousness, without condemnation and without partiality.
I find great comfort in the story of Hagar. Sarai and Abram had been yearning for a child, and out of her desperation, Sarai arranged for Hagar to have Abram’s baby. Despite the desired outcome, Sarai changed her mind on the matter and began to hate Hagar. Hagar fled into the wilderness in despair, feeling unseen and expendable. But God met her in that desert and saw her. She called him (El-Roi), “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13-14). El-Roi is a name that matters for justice. When we are desperate for justice, we not only want someone to take our side, but also to acknowledge our pain–to see us in our plight.
At the heart of every justice issue is the desire to be seen and for somebody to recognise the wrong done to us. God’s justice rests on perfect sight. He sees motives, secret longings, the forces that shaped an action, and the pain behind a cry. He is not swayed by the loudest voice, the most compelling evidence, or the most persuasive storyteller. The visible act and the invisible heart-God knows it all. His all-seeing eyes bring comfort to the wronged, no matter which side of the story they are on. Only God could comfort Hagar in her mistreatment and ensure the safety of Ishmael while responding to the anxiety, hatred, and restlessness of Sarai, who was awaiting the arrival of her own child. The God who sees Hagar in her rejection is also the God who sees Sarai in her desperation.
Justice and grace sound like opposites on a list of antonyms. However, scripture repeatedly demonstrates that divine justice and divine grace are not opposites but partners. God is just because he discerns between right and wrong. Numerous stories in the Bible demonstrate God’s judgment in calling out wrong actions and commending right ones. Whether it is disobedience, murder, lying, coveting, or jealousy—God calls it out and brings the sinner to correction. God accounts the wrong but also offers new life to the wrongdoer. He is not a relativist, nor is He an authoritarian King.
Consider the story of King Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33), whose reign was marked by idolatry and injustice, but when he repented, God relented and restored him. A similar account occurred with Nineveh, where God declared His judgment against them; yet when the city repented, God showed them His compassion (Jonah 3). These stories display two characteristics about God: He hates wrongdoing and will judge it. At the same time, God also offers a way back. Justice without mercy is harsh; mercy without justice is hollow. God does not bend his righteous standards, yet His heart is eager for the sinner to find their way back to him. God’s judgment is not an act to satisfy his anger or prove himself. Instead, He acts to make restoration possible.
One of the most challenging books for me to read has been the book of Leviticus with its numerous laws. On its own, it looks absurd, but when you see through the lens of a lawyer and a judge, it is amazing how God provided for laws that secured the most vulnerable and downcast, as well as legal issues that would occur in the lay of the land. Ultimately, God’s greatest demonstration of justice and mercy is found at the cross, where Jesus pays the price for justice and makes the redemption of sin possible. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Through the cross, God shows that true justice is not merely intended for retribution but for bridging the gap between us and him that was caused because of sin.
Any of us who have faced an issue of injustice knows that systems of this world have sometimes failed to do right by us. Sometimes justice is delayed and not satisfactory, and at times, it is never received. No matter which side of the story we are on, it is only God’s justice that can satisfy our hearts and only his mercy, healing, and compassion that can soothe the pain.
Dear friend, if you are awaiting justice, take heart—because God sees. If you stand accused or are weighed down by the burden of your guilt, remember there is a path to forgiveness and restoration through repentance in Christ. And if you fear that justice means a harsh punishment, then look to the cross—where God proves that His justice ultimately gives us a way back to Himself.
Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash
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Well said. When all stand before the judgment seat of God - the justice of His decisions will require no appeal. Those judged will immediately see the justice and those forgiven will immediately be overwhelmed by His mercy.
Wow Ishnita! So thought provoking and beautifully written. Truly the Lord sees!