Together in Christ: 'True Justice Is Rooted in God's Justice' — Deuteronomy 24:17-18

From the beginning of God's promise to Abraham to create a great people who honored Him, the Almighty emphasized one foundational principle: You are blessed to be a blessing. ^[1] Throughout the Torah, God reminded Israel that they had been hopelessly enslaved, abused, and treated with great injustice in Egypt. ^[2] When God delivered them from Egypt, He gave them commands for how they should live. The Lord demanded His people treat each other and those living among them with dignity, compassion, and justice. He revealed that He was righteous in character, gracious with compassion, and faithful in applying justice. ^[3] His character needed to be their character: "Be holy as I am holy," God repeatedly told his people. ^[4]

God demanded that His people treat people in ways that may not seem logical, politically expedient, or profitable. This commitment to God's nature seems foolish to people lacking God's character, compassion, and justice. Yet the Lord insists that His people protect the widow, care for the fatherless and orphans, make provisions to sustain the poor, and treat the foreigners among them with the same respect and love God treated His people when they were enslaved people in Egypt. Even today, these standards don't make political sense to many people. But, as people who live in relationships with others based on God's righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful justice, we embrace God's standards until they become our own. After all, He has given us this command: Love your neighbor as you love yourself!