Confronting the Judge of All the Earth
“What happens when the Judge of all the earth invites us into the tension between His justice and His mercy—and calls us to pray for both?”
Sermon Summary
Scripture presents a powerful tension between God’s justice and His mercy, a theme woven throughout Genesis 18 and Psalm 94. As Abraham pleads for Sodom, the Bible invites us into the same struggle: How long will the wicked prosper? How long will the righteous suffer?
In Genesis 18, the Judge of all the earth reveals His plan to bring judgment on Sodom. Yet before acting, God draws Abraham into intercession—into praying for both justice and mercy. Abraham boldly appeals: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” He asks God to spare the city for the sake of even ten righteous people, showing the heart of a God who listens before He acts.
Throughout Scripture, righteousness and justice define God’s character and His call upon His people. Yet our longing for justice is complicated—we want judgment for evil, but mercy for ourselves. This tension finds its ultimate resolution at the cross, where God’s righteous wrath against sin and His deep love for sinners meet perfectly in Christ.
The sermon calls believers to join Abraham’s legacy of intercession. When we see injustice—whether personal pain or global crises like human trafficking—we cry out to the One who is both holy and merciful. Our prayers matter. God hears. And though final justice awaits Christ’s return, Scripture urges us to keep praying, keep interceding, and keep trusting the Judge of all the earth.