Is God Fair?

Inasmuch as we’re discussing a character trait, we need a working dictionary definition:  “marked by impartiality and honesty”.  Synonyms: “Just, equitable, impartial, unbiased, and dispassionate”.  Along the way we ought to see if we can get some Scriptural references pointing to God’s being “fair”; surprise, there are none.  Of the 54 references to “fair” in the Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance, there is not a single reference to God’s being “fair”.  Far and away most of the references containing “fair” have to do with the countenance of a female, and the remainder of the references touch on jewelry, trees and the weather.

Yes, by definition it would be impossible for God to be dishonest.  But though the above synonyms may be desirable for a judge in the American judicial system, they break down as a way to describe God for these frequently appear to be the least of His concerns:  “Just, equitable, impartial, unbiased and dispassionate”.  If anything, much Scripture can be brought to bear revealing He is the opposite of these.

In the “Book of Job” were “fairness” the standard by which God is judged in His relations with Job, He would strike out.  Nor would He fare much better with the remainder of the Old Testament saints.  And, remarkably, there’s no change with New Testament saints.  “Fairness” is simply not an issue.

What redeems the situation with our assessment of God’s character is found in the words of Abraham when he was contending with God for Sodom and posed the question, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right” (Genesis 18:25b)?  But what’s “right” and according to whom?

One of the prerogatives of being God is that He does not have to answer to humankind.  But what’s redemptive about this relationship is that God is a loving God and wants nothing but the “best” for His children.  We have His word repeatedly on that and some understanding of His whole scheme of redemption, culminating at the Cross.

Still we wonder “why” about certain things, usually as they have to do with us.  For starters we need to accept God’s word through Isaiah on this subject:  “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways’, says the Lord.  ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (55:8,9).

One day we will understand, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (I Corinthians 13:12).

An apt comparison for our need to know is this:  did your child or children always know why you were doing what you were doing on their behalf?  No, what’s more they didn’t have to know.  All they needed to know was that you loved them and were acting as wisely as possible on their behalf.

Is God “fair”?  Who’s asking?