Insights into divine justice: how to understand suffering, mercy, and redemption

Description: Is God’s justice cruel? Discover how God's justice intertwines with mercy and offers redemption, even in the face of suffering and hardship.

Introduction: understanding divine justice

Throughout the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, we read about God’s people experiencing hardships, both from their own failures and from enemy aggression. This leads many to question: how can a loving God allow suffering? And, in the context of divine justice, is God’s judgment ever cruel?

This question has troubled believers and non-believers alike. Yet, when viewed through the lens of divine justice, what appears as cruelty is often better understood as God’s commitment to righteousness and restoration. The key to understanding divine justice lies in the transition from the Old Covenant, marked by the laws and judgments of the Old Testament, to the New Covenant, ushered in through Jesus Christ, which offers mercy, redemption, and grace.

Divine justice and the Old Covenant: an analogy

A helpful analogy is that of a wealthy benefactor who rescues a group of people from desperate circumstances. In return for his generosity, these people agree to follow a set of simple guidelines, aimed at ensuring the well-being of the entire community. Initially, the community thrives, but over time, envy and pride creep in. Some abandon their commitment and turn their backs on the benefactor’s rules. Despite repeated warnings, the rebellion grows. Eventually, the benefactor withdraws his protection, leaving them vulnerable to both the natural consequences of their own actions, and the hostility of warmongering neighbours.

This mirrors the story of Israel in the Old Testament. God, like the benefactor, was faithful to his promises, offering protection and prosperity under the condition of loyalty. However, despite repeated warnings from prophets, the people of Israel consistently turned away, embracing idolatry and disobedience instead of allegiance. As a result, they faced suffering, exile, and destruction, not because God was cruel, but because they had abandoned their covenant with him. Importantly, they did this in full knowledge of the consequences of turning their backs on God, as detailed in Leviticus 26:14-39.

A shift from law to grace: the New Covenant through Jesus

The Old Covenant, as seen in the story of Israel, was conditional – blessings came with loyalty and obedience; suffering followed disloyalty and impiety. This approach was not a failure on God's part, but a reflection of humanity’s free will. Accordingly, God addressed people’s inability to maintain their part of the covenant by establishing a New Covenant through Jesus Christ.

Jesus' perfect loyalty and obedience overcame the limitations of the Old Covenant. While humanity repeatedly failed to uphold its promises, Jesus lived a life of complete fidelity to God's will. His sacrificial death bridged the gap created by sin, offering believers the opportunity for redemption and reconciliation with God. Through Jesus, the penalties of the Old Covenant are lifted, and grace abounds.

This New Covenant doesn't eliminate suffering but transforms its purpose. Jesus himself warned that his followers would experience persecution and hardship, but he also promised that, through him, there would be victory and peace. The new reality of divine justice through Jesus shifts the focus from punishment to redemption, offering eternal life to all who believe.

The purpose of suffering in the Christian life

A common objection raised by critics is that suffering reflects cruelty or indifference on God’s part. However, cruelty implies an intention to inflict harm for its own sake, which is incompatible with the Christian understanding of God’s nature. Rather, suffering in this world stems from the consequences of sin, free will, and living in a fallen creation.

Even more profoundly, Jesus emphasised that suffering can have a transformative purpose. Believers are not promised a life free from trials, but are assured that these trials serve to refine and strengthen their faith. In Matthew 10:22, Jesus warned his disciples that they would be hated for his name's sake, but such suffering would lead to endurance. In John 16:33, he acknowledged the brokenness of the world but offered the comforting promise of peace in him. And in Luke 9:23-24, he called his followers to take up their cross daily, signifying the self-denial and hardships that accompany the Christian walk.

These teachings make it clear that suffering is not arbitrary. It is used by God to build character, deepen trust in him, and draw believers closer to his heart. Moreover, Christian suffering is temporary. It points towards the ultimate hope of eternal life, where pain and sorrow will be no more. For the believer, this eternal perspective transforms suffering into a meaningful process that aligns with God’s purpose.

Divine justice, free will, and eternal hope

The accusation of cruelty often arises from misunderstanding the nature of free will. God's respect for human autonomy means he allows humanity to experience the consequences of its choices, both good and bad. If God were to prevent all suffering, he would also be removing the freedom essential to meaningful love and moral responsibility. The choices people make, both individually and collectively, contribute to the brokenness of the world, which in turn leads to much of the suffering we see today.

However, the Christian narrative doesn't end with suffering. The Bible teaches that God’s justice is always tempered with mercy, and the ultimate goal of his judgment is restoration, not destruction. The New Covenant, established through Jesus, is the clearest demonstration of God’s justice and mercy in harmony. Through Christ’s sacrifice, humanity is offered the opportunity to turn from sin and receive eternal life. This is the core of the Christian hope: that in Christ, there is redemption, restoration, and the promise of eternal joy in the presence of God.

Conclusion: divine justice in action

In conclusion, God's justice, while firm, is never devoid of mercy. His actions, both in the Old and New Testaments, are grounded in his desire for the restoration and salvation of humanity. The suffering and hardship seen in the Old Testament were consequences of rebellion against God, but they were never the final word. Through Jesus, the New Covenant demonstrates the depth of God’s love and compassion, offering hope to all who turn to him.

Rather than viewing God as cruel, Christians can take comfort in the knowledge that his justice is always paired with mercy and that, through Christ, the path to eternal life is open. Suffering in this life, though real, is temporary and purposeful, pointing towards the ultimate restoration that God has promised.

As we reflect on the story of divine justice, we are reminded that God’s ways, though sometimes difficult to understand, are always rooted in love, righteousness, and a desire for our eternal good.