God's Justice, Mercy, and Our Call to Repentance

Devotional

Day 1: God Sees the Evil and Suffering in the World

God is not distant or indifferent to the pain, injustice, and evil that fill our world; He sees every act, every broken heart, and every injustice, and He knows intimately what is happening both globally and personally. When the weight of the world feels overwhelming and you wonder if anyone notices, remember that God’s eyes are never closed to suffering—He is near to the brokenhearted and attentive to the cries of those who are hurting. This truth is a source of hope and comfort: you are not unseen, and neither is any act of evil or injustice. [11:17]

Genesis 6:5, 11-12 (ESV)
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

Reflection: When you see or experience injustice or evil, how does it change your response to remember that God sees and knows every detail—both in the world and in your own life?

Day 2: God Judges Evil and Will Set Things Right

God does not merely observe evil; He acts with justice and righteousness, holding all people accountable for their actions and ensuring that evil will not go unpunished. His judgment is not delayed out of indifference but out of patience, and He grieves over violence and injustice, promising that a day will come when all wrongs are made right. This reality is both a comfort and a challenge: comfort that God is not passive, and challenge to examine our own lives in light of His holiness. [17:00]

Genesis 6:3, 7, 13, 17 (ESV)
3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”
7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”
17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to remember that God’s justice is real and that He calls you to live with integrity and accountability today?

Day 3: God Provides Rescue and Hope Through Covenant

Even in the midst of judgment and a world filled with sin, God’s heart is to provide rescue and hope for those who trust Him; He initiates covenant, offering grace and a way of salvation, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Just as God established a covenant with Noah, He offers us a new covenant through the blood of Jesus, inviting us to trust in His rescue and walk in relationship with Him. This is the foundation of our hope: God is not only just, but also merciful, always making a way for redemption. [24:13]

Genesis 6:18 (ESV)
But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

Reflection: What does it look like for you to trust God’s rescue and walk in His covenant today, especially when the world feels overwhelming?

Day 4: Jesus Is the Ultimate Sign That God Handles Evil

The sending of Jesus is God’s definitive answer to the problem of evil and sin; through His death and resurrection, Jesus bears the judgment we deserve and offers forgiveness, showing that God is actively working to redeem and restore all things. The cross is the ultimate sign that God is not passive or absent, but has entered into our brokenness to bring salvation, and Jesus’ promised return assures us that evil will not have the final word. In Jesus, we find both assurance and a call to faithfulness as we await His coming. [25:32]

Romans 14:10-12 (ESV)
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus has already dealt with sin and will return to set all things right shape the way you respond to evil and suffering today?

Day 5: Our Response: Repentance and Everyday Faithfulness

The appropriate response to a world filled with evil is not to point fingers at others, but to begin with humble repentance and a renewed commitment to love God and others in sincerity and truth. True change starts not with political solutions or clever arguments, but with hearts broken before God, seeking His forgiveness and living out faithful obedience in daily life. When we repent and walk in everyday faithfulness, we become part of God’s answer to the world’s brokenness. [27:58]

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Reflection: Is there an area where you need to repent—turning from blame or bitterness—and instead ask God to renew your heart and empower you to love others faithfully today?

Sermon Summary

In a world where evil and injustice seem to be on the rise, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or even question where God is in the midst of it all. Recent events, both local and national, have weighed heavily on many hearts, and the temptation is strong to look outward—to blame, to rail against “those people,” or to get lost in political or social arguments. But the real battle is spiritual, and it begins within each of us. The Lord is not distant or indifferent to the pain and brokenness we see; He sees, He judges, and He acts.

Genesis 6 offers a sobering reminder that God is intimately aware of the evil in the world. He is not a passive observer, but a God who grieves over violence and injustice. The passage shows that God’s response to rampant sin is not only to see it but to judge it. His judgment is not arbitrary or delayed out of impotence, but is a deliberate act rooted in His holiness and justice. The limitation of human lifespans and the coming of the flood were not just acts of wrath, but of a God who cannot and will not let evil go unchecked.

Yet, even in the midst of judgment, God’s heart is to rescue. He establishes a covenant with Noah, providing a way of salvation for those who walk with Him. This pattern of rescue is seen throughout Scripture and finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. The cross is the definitive sign that God is handling the evil of the world—not by ignoring it, but by bearing its weight Himself and offering forgiveness to all who trust in Him.

This reality is both comforting and challenging. Comforting, because God is not asleep at the wheel; He is actively working to set things right. Challenging, because His dealings are not just with “them” but with us. The call is not to self-righteousness or finger-pointing, but to repentance and faithful obedience. The way forward is not through clever arguments or political victories, but through humble hearts broken before God, seeking His mercy and living out sincere love for Him and others. In the face of overwhelming evil, the most powerful response is to turn to God in repentance, trust His justice, and walk in everyday faithfulness.

Key Takeaways

1. God Sees and Knows All Evil and Injustice God is not distant or unaware of the suffering and wickedness in the world. He sees every act of injustice, every broken heart, and every hidden sin. This truth is both a comfort for those who suffer and a warning for those who participate in wrongdoing—nothing escapes His notice. In moments when the weight of the world feels too much, remember that God’s gaze is full of love, mercy, and tenderness, not indifference. [13:27]
2. God’s Judgment Is Certain and Rooted in His Holiness God does not merely observe evil; He acts to judge it. His judgment is not impulsive or vengeful, but a necessary response to the corruption and violence that grieve His heart. The limitation of human lifespans and the flood in Genesis 6 are reminders that God will not let sin go unchecked forever. This certainty of judgment should encourage us to pursue holiness and remind us that God’s justice will ultimately prevail. [17:00]
3. God’s Rescue Is Always by Grace, Not Deserved Even as God judges, He provides a way of rescue for those who trust Him. Noah did not earn God’s favor; it was God who initiated the covenant and provided salvation. This pattern points forward to Jesus, who is the ultimate rescue for humanity. Our hope is not in our own righteousness, but in the grace God extends through Christ, who bore the judgment we deserved. [24:26]
4. Repentance, Not Righteous Outrage, Is the Path Forward When confronted with evil, the temptation is to point fingers or seek solutions in politics or social movements. Yet, Scripture calls us first to repentance—a deep, personal turning to God. The problems we face are too deep to be solved by human effort alone; they require hearts broken before God, seeking His renewal and mercy. True change begins not with “them,” but with us, on our knees before the Lord. [28:25]
5. Faithful Obedience in the Everyday Matters Most God’s dealings with evil are not just about grand gestures or world events; they are about our daily faithfulness. Noah’s obedience in building the ark was an act of trust in God’s word, even when it seemed foolish to others. Likewise, our response to the brokenness around us is to love God and others sincerely, to repent, and to walk in obedience—trusting that God is at work, even when we cannot see the full picture. [29:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Wrestling with World Events and God’s Word
[01:34] - The Weight of Recent Evil and Suffering
[03:15] - Where Is God in All This?
[04:41] - The Spiritual Nature of Our Struggle
[05:33] - God Sees the Evil in the World
[06:40] - Interpreting Genesis 6: Sons of God and Nephilim
[10:21] - God’s Grief Over Human Wickedness
[13:27] - God Sees with Love and Mercy
[14:06] - God Judges Evil and Corruption
[16:44] - God’s Grief and the Cause of Judgment
[18:27] - God’s Judgment Is Not Passive
[20:16] - The Certainty of Judgment and Our Accountability
[23:23] - God’s Rescue: The Covenant with Noah
[25:32] - Jesus: The Ultimate Sign of God Handling Evil
[27:42] - Our Response: Repentance and Faithful Obedience
[29:48] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 6:1-22 (ESV) — (You may want to read the whole chapter together, but especially focus on verses 5-22.)

Additional Passages: — - Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV): "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Observation Questions

According to Genesis 6, what specific things does God see happening on the earth that grieve Him? ([10:21])
What are some of the ways God responds to the evil and corruption described in Genesis 6? ([14:21])
In the sermon, what does the pastor say about God’s attitude when He sees evil and suffering in the world? ([13:27])
How does God provide a way of rescue for Noah and his family in Genesis 6? ([24:13])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says God is not a passive observer but is grieved by violence and injustice. Why is it important to know that God feels grief over evil, not just anger? ([17:00])
The pastor mentions that God’s judgment is not impulsive or vengeful, but rooted in His holiness. How does this shape the way we think about God’s justice? ([16:44])
The sermon points out that God’s rescue is always by grace, not something we earn. How does Noah’s story point forward to Jesus and the gospel? ([24:26])
The pastor says the real battle is spiritual and begins within each of us, not just “out there” in the world. What does this mean for how we respond to evil and injustice? ([04:41])

Application Questions

When you see evil or injustice in the news or in your own life, do you tend to feel overwhelmed, angry, or numb? How does remembering that God sees and cares change your response? ([13:27])
The sermon warns against only blaming “those people” or getting lost in political arguments. Are there ways you’ve been tempted to do this? What would it look like to focus on your own heart and walk with God instead? ([04:25])
God’s judgment is certain, but it is also patient and purposeful. How does this truth encourage you or challenge you in your daily pursuit of holiness? ([20:16])
The pastor says that the most powerful response to evil is repentance, not self-righteous outrage. Is there an area in your life where you need to repent instead of pointing fingers? ([28:25])
Noah’s obedience was simple but costly—he built the ark even when it seemed foolish. What is one area where God is calling you to everyday faithfulness, even if it doesn’t make sense to others? ([29:48])
The sermon says our hope is not in our own righteousness, but in the grace God extends through Christ. Are you tempted to trust in your own goodness or performance? How can you rest more fully in God’s grace this week? ([24:26])
When you feel the weight of the world’s brokenness, what is one practical way you can turn to God in prayer, repentance, or service this week? ([12:33])

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