Sermons on Genesis 18:25
The various sermons below converge on the understanding of Genesis 18:25 as a profound affirmation of God’s justice and the relational dynamic between God and humanity. They collectively emphasize that Abraham’s question to God—“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”—is not a mere rhetorical device but a sincere expression of faith, trust, and engagement with divine justice. Each sermon highlights the legitimacy of questioning God within the context of a faithful relationship, portraying Abraham’s boldness as a model for believers to bring their doubts and concerns before God without fear. This shared theme underscores the imago Dei in humanity, suggesting that our inquisitiveness reflects God’s own nature and invites a parental, patient response from God. Nuances emerge in how the sermons apply this principle: one sermon uses the analogy of a child’s persistent questioning to illustrate the necessity of honest inquiry, another draws a detailed contrast between human and divine judges to affirm God’s perfect jurisdiction, and a third sermon frames the verse as a foundation for epistemic humility, especially in grappling with difficult theological questions like the fate of the unevangelized.
Despite these commonalities, the sermons diverge significantly in their theological emphases and pastoral applications. One sermon focuses on the relational and emotional tone of Abraham’s question, contrasting it with cynical skepticism and highlighting the welcoming nature of God toward faithful questioning. Another sermon adopts a more systematic apologetic approach, emphasizing God’s universal jurisdiction and perfect justice, and addressing objections to divine judgment with reasoned arguments rooted in God’s omniscience and authority. The third sermon shifts the focus toward the limits of human knowledge and the necessity of trusting God’s character amid mystery, using the passage to encourage humility and faith in the face of unanswered questions, particularly regarding salvation and judgment. While two sermons engage the verse primarily as a declaration of God’s justice and fairness, the third uniquely extends its application to the believer’s posture before divine mystery and evangelistic responsibility, creating a distinct theological lens through which to view the passage.
Genesis 18:25 Interpretation:
Embracing Questions: Seeking Truth in Faith (LLMC Online) offers a unique interpretation of Genesis 18:25 by focusing on the irony embedded in Abraham’s question to God. The sermon draws a contrast between the irony of Pilate’s question to Jesus (“What is truth?”) and Abraham’s question to God (“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”). The preacher suggests that Abraham’s question, while bold and tinged with irony, is rooted in honest seeking, compassion, and relationship with God, rather than the cynical or dismissive irony of Pilate. The sermon highlights that Abraham’s approach is not irreverent rebellion but a model of faithful, relational questioning, suggesting that God welcomes such engagement. The preacher also uses the analogy of a child’s persistent questioning to illustrate the legitimacy and even necessity of bringing our hardest questions to God, as Abraham did.
God's Justice: Understanding Divine Judgment and Mercy (David Guzik) interprets Genesis 18:25 as a foundational statement about the nature of God’s justice and jurisdiction. The sermon emphasizes that Abraham’s declaration—“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”—is not merely rhetorical but asserts two key principles: God’s universal jurisdiction and his unfailing righteousness in judgment. Guzik draws a detailed analogy between human judges (with their limitations, partial knowledge, and procedural constraints) and God as the perfect, all-knowing, and unlimited Judge. He extends the interpretation by discussing how God’s justice sometimes involves judging entire communities, not just individuals, and that this prerogative is rooted in God’s unique position as Judge of all the earth. The sermon also explores the apologetic implications, addressing objections to God’s justice by appealing to God’s omniscience, authority, and the limitations of human perspective.
Understanding Suffering: Faith, Hope, and the Cross (Alistair Begg, Truth For Life) interprets Genesis 18:25 as a foundational assurance of God’s absolute justice, especially in the context of difficult theological questions such as the fate of those who have never heard the gospel. Begg highlights the rhetorical nature of Abraham’s question—“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”—as a bedrock for Christian confidence that God’s judgments are always fair, even when human understanding is limited. He does not delve into the original Hebrew, but he uniquely frames the verse as a “declaration of scripture concerning the absolute Justice or fairness of God,” using it as a launch point for discussing the limits of human knowledge and the necessity of trusting God’s character in the face of mystery. This approach stands out for its application of the verse to apologetic conversations, especially regarding the destiny of the unevangelized, and for its emphasis on the humility required when addressing questions that scripture leaves partially unanswered.
Genesis 18:25 Theological Themes:
Embracing Questions: Seeking Truth in Faith (LLMC Online) introduces the theme that questioning God—even with boldness and irony—is not only permitted but modeled in Scripture as a sign of authentic relationship and trust. The sermon distinguishes between questioning that is rooted in honest seeking (as with Abraham) and questioning that is dismissive or cynical (as with Pilate), suggesting that God welcomes the former as part of a dynamic relationship with his people. This theme is nuanced by the idea that our propensity to question reflects the imago Dei (image of God) in humanity, and that God’s parental tolerance for our questions mirrors the patience of a loving parent with a curious child.
God's Justice: Understanding Divine Judgment and Mercy (David Guzik) presents a distinct theological theme by arguing that God’s justice is not only perfect but also comprehensive, extending to individuals, communities, and even nations. The sermon adds a fresh apologetic angle by systematically addressing common objections to divine judgment (existence, jurisdiction, fairness) and providing six reasoned responses rooted in God’s character and the limitations of human understanding. Guzik also introduces the theme that in Christ, God is both “just and the justifier,” making divine justice a source of comfort rather than fear for believers—a nuanced application of Romans 3:26 in light of Genesis 18:25.
Understanding Suffering: Faith, Hope, and the Cross (Alistair Begg, Truth For Life) introduces the distinct theological theme that Genesis 18:25 provides a scriptural warrant for epistemic humility—acknowledging that “we don’t know everything and the reason is that we haven’t been told everything nor has God intended that we should know everything.” This theme is not merely about God’s justice, but about the believer’s posture before divine mystery: the verse is used to ground the acceptance of “secret things” belonging to God (Deuteronomy 29:29) and to encourage Christians to rest in the revealed character of God when confronted with questions that have no full answer. Begg’s application of the verse to the problem of the unevangelized and the justice of God in judgment is a nuanced expansion beyond the typical use of the passage, focusing on the intersection of divine justice, human limitation, and evangelistic responsibility.
Genesis 18:25 Historical and Contextual Insights:
God's Justice: Understanding Divine Judgment and Mercy (David Guzik) provides historical and cultural context by explaining the ancient Near Eastern practice of hospitality (as seen in Abraham’s reception of the three visitors) and the concept of collective judgment in the Old Testament. The sermon details how judgments in the ancient world often involved entire communities or nations, not just individuals, and that this was understood as a legitimate exercise of divine authority. Guzik also references the broader biblical pattern of God using both direct and indirect means (e.g., other nations as instruments of judgment) to execute justice, situating Genesis 18:25 within the larger narrative of divine judgment throughout Scripture.
Genesis 18:25 Cross-References in the Bible:
God's Justice: Understanding Divine Judgment and Mercy (David Guzik) references multiple biblical passages to expand on Genesis 18:25. He cites Psalm 50:6 (“for God himself is Judge”), Zephaniah 3:5 (“he will do no unrighteousness”), and Psalm 9:7-8 (“he shall judge the world in righteousness”) to reinforce the theme of God’s perfect justice. Guzik also discusses Numbers 31:17 (the judgment on the Midianites), Genesis 7 (the flood), Genesis 19 (Sodom and Gomorrah), Joshua (the Canaanites), 2 Kings 17 and 25 (judgment on Israel and Judah), and Romans 3:26 (“just and the justifier”). He further references John 5:22, 26-27 to assert that Jesus is the Judge appointed by the Father, and Isaiah 40:14 to emphasize God’s unmatched wisdom in judgment. Each reference is used to support the claim that God’s justice is comprehensive, righteous, and ultimately trustworthy, even when it is difficult for humans to understand.
Understanding Suffering: Faith, Hope, and the Cross (Alistair Begg, Truth For Life) cross-references Genesis 18:25 with Deuteronomy 29:29 (“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever...”), using it to reinforce the theme of divine mystery and the limits of human knowledge. He also references Romans 2:12-16 to explain how God’s justice operates for those who have never heard of Christ, arguing that all people have an innate moral standard and are judged according to the light they have received. Additionally, he cites Acts 4:12 (“there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved”) to assert the exclusivity of salvation in Christ, and Hebrews 9:27 (“man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment”) to emphasize the finality of judgment. These references are woven together to show that, while the specifics of God’s judgment may be hidden, the principles of justice and the necessity of Christ are clearly revealed.
Genesis 18:25 Christian References outside the Bible:
Embracing Questions: Seeking Truth in Faith (LLMC Online) explicitly references C.S. Lewis, quoting his idea that in heaven, “all questions and our need for answers will simply melt away before his face.” The preacher uses Lewis’s perspective to suggest that the ultimate resolution to our deepest questions is not found in intellectual answers but in the presence of God himself, reinforcing the sermon's theme of relational trust and the limits of human understanding.
Genesis 18:25 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Embracing Questions: Seeking Truth in Faith (LLMC Online) uses several secular analogies to illustrate Genesis 18:25. The preacher draws on the experience of being questioned by a four-year-old grandchild, likening Abraham’s questioning of God to a child’s persistent and honest inquiries to a parent. The sermon also references the shriek of a rabbit caught by a fox as a metaphor for the problem of innocent suffering, paralleling Abraham’s concern for the righteous in Sodom. Additionally, the preacher uses the analogy of negotiating with God for the lives of “righteous rabbits” in the woods, humorously echoing Abraham’s bargaining for Sodom, to highlight the human impulse to seek mercy and justice in a world marked by suffering and predation. These illustrations serve to make the ancient text relatable and to underscore the legitimacy of bringing our hardest questions to God.