Biblical Answers for Injustice

            It is a difficult for us to deal with the issue of injustice.  It is inherent in every relationship problem or dysfunctional family situation.  Although it is a common problem, it can also become a complex one when it leaves scars on the soul and changes a person’s view of the world.  A client’s life can be deeply damaged because of some perceived injustice, especially in cases of governmental abuse, imprisonment, torture, or war.  Without help, he may never recover.  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can last for a lifetime.  Injustice is always a boundary violation, since for an injustice to exist it must be perceived that either the boundary or law has not been fairly applied or that the one who made the decision is not the one who is getting the consequences.  Injustice threatens a person’s feelings of security.  When injustice prevails, people feel powerless.  Consequently, experiences of injustice can lead to problems that affect people for a lifetime if they are not resolved.  A person naturally wants to strike back and correct the wrong.  However, even though God expects people to do their part, personally taking vengeance is not usually God’s way of dealing with the problem.  

            In Judges Chapter 8, the Bible describes an extreme case of injustice and gives us a model for resolving these kinds of problems.  We normally trust that our government was  established to provide justice and sometimes we rely too much on our courts to insure that justice will be carried out.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case. 

1.  Governmental injustice is an issues of power and control.  We want people to be in charge of our government that we believe will insure that our needs are met.  Because Gideon had saved the nation from the Midianites, they wanted him to be king. 

Jud 8:22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 

2.  In order to have peace we must place our trust primarily in God, not in man.  No legal system can ever guarantee justice because each of us is motivated by our own self-interest or selfishness.  Gideon was right suggesting that God should be their ruler.  

Jud 8:23  And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.  

3.  The seeds of injustice are planted when we value other things more than God (have idols), and trust primarily in human laws.  Even the laws of our country can become idols to us if we excessively trust and rely on them to bring us justice. 

Jud 8:33  And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith (God of covenant or human laws) their god. 

4.  Because human laws are based on selfishness, they can never bring true justice.   Although we all profess to want justice, we only really desire to meet our own needs.  We do not really want justice when we are at fault. 

Jud 9:1  And Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal (by a concubine) went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, 2  Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether [is] better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, [which are] threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I [am] your bone and your flesh. 3  And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He [is] our brother. (and will give our selfish interests priority.) 

5.  People select leaders and make laws that benefit them.  Democracy is the most just of any system of government, because, at least ideally, each person has some say in the laws that govern the legal process.  However, even in a democracy, each person votes for those representatives that reflect their personal views and whom they believe will make laws that are in their best interest.  Because the people were convinced that Abimelech, their relative, would be favorable to them; they supported him with money from the temple of Baalberith, the god of the Philistines, which means “the lord of covenant.”  People give money to support those that they want to be elected. 

Jud 9:4  And they gave him threescore and ten [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baalberith (covenant of God or human laws), wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. 

6.  The result of selfishness in government is injustice.  People are not concerned about insuring that others’ needs are met—just their own.  The laws in the United States that support and defend abortion are a clear example of this.  They defend the rights of the mother (who can vote) over the rights of the unborn child (who cannot vote).  The people of Shechem supported Abimelech so that they could get their needs met even after he killed 69 of Gideon’s innocent sons in order to usurp power. 

Jud 9:5  And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, [being] threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham (Jehovah is perfect) the youngest son of  Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. 

7.  Human leaders are chosen through a selfish power struggle for predominance.  The fact that these men came from Millo (which means “rampart or mound”) suggests that they saw all of life as a struggle to win the battle of “king of the hill.”  Such competition is never fair or just for everyone.  In fact, everyone eventually loses. 

Jud 9:6  And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that [was] in Shechem. 

8.  Injustice must be confronted.  Jotham’s name means, “Jehovah is perfect.”  Although he trusted God to be perfect and just, he still had an obligation to confront this clear injustice, just as we have an obligation to confront abortion in our land.  He confronted it from Mount Gerizin, the mountain from which the Israelites said the blessing over those who would obey the law when they entered into the Promised Land.  I believe that this suggests that God has a special blessing for those who will confront injustice. 

Jud 9:7.  And when they told [it] to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim (The Mountain of Blessing) and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. 

9.  Because human government is based on vested interest, most of those who are truly productive and would be a blessing will not compete for political power.  Gideon had refused to reign over Israel or let his sons be king, because he believed that God should be their king.  Because of the constant competition, name-calling, and “dirty tricks” involved in politics, few Christians have been willing to participate in the electoral process.  Unfortunately, this lack of participation has allowed many unjust laws to be enacted and injustice to prevail in our governmental system.  Jothan’s story suggests that, at least in his day, only rough people who wanted to strive for power (the bramble bush) would accept a position of political leadership. 

Jud 9:8  The trees went forth [on a time] to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree (Israel from the religious standpoint), Reign thou over us.  9  But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?  10  And the trees said to the fig tree (represents Israel from a political standpoint), Come thou, [and] reign over us.  11  But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?  12  Then said the trees unto the vine (a type of the nation of Israel which brings forth good things), Come thou, [and] reign over us.  13  And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?  14  Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, [and] reign over us. 

10.  How foolish it is to put our trust in people who have a vested interest in being leaders, because their selfishness will inevitably bring injustice.  These verses suggest that if we are naïve enough to believe that selfish, competitive people are going to be a blessing to us, we will be burned.  Unfortunately, because we allow the bramble bushes of life to lead us our collective Christian life is devoured. 

Jud 9:15  And the bramble (the thorn tree represents disagreeable life filled with antagonism, criticism, and hatred) said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, [then] come [and] put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars (the collective Christian life) of Lebanon. 

11.  How can a government, which is based on injustice or power struggles, ever bring justice?  The fact is that no matter how much effort we put into a governmental system, it can never bring the complete justice that God wants to provide.  Jotham, in his speech, clearly expressed the injustice done to his family and suggested that those who do injustice will eventually reap what they sow. 

Jud 9:16  Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; 17  (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 18  And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he [is] your brother;)  19  If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, [then] rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 

12.  Injustice will eventually consume itself if, through forgiveness, we give up our rights to God for vengeance.  Those who act unjustly come under a curse that results from their own selfishness.  They may feel that they will get away with it—and for a season it may appear that they do—but eventually all those who do injustice will be consumed by it. 

Jud 9:20  But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem (human reliance), and the house of Millo (ranpart – king of the hill or struggles for power); and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. 

13.  After releasing our rights to God, we need to trust in Him for life.  After doing everything that we can to confront injustice, we need to turn the entire situation over to God and go on with our lives. 

Jud 9:21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer (a well, an oasis in the desert), and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. 

14.   It usually takes time for God’s justice to prevail, because God gives time for all men to repent.  Because in biblical times a successful king reigned forty years, the time that elapsed before Abimelech began to reap his consequences was not very long.  Of course, people who have been victimized always want justice to occur immediately. 

Jud 9:22  When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, 

15.  God knows how to take vengeance and how to avenge injustice.  God works behind the scenes and is in control even when it does not appear that He is.  Just as Abimelech had dealt treacherously with the sons of Gideon, so the people of Shechem who had supported him, eventually turned on him.  In the same way, Abimelech turned on them and destroyed them. 

Jud 9:23  Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 24  That the cruelty [done] to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.  45  And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city (of Shechem), and slew the people that [was] therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. 

16.  Human covenants and laws will not protect unjust people.  Those who support a political candidate expect that candidate to protect them from injustice.  This is seldom the case in the end.  The people of Shechem tried to escape into the house of their god (government), but Abimelech used trees to burn them to death.  Trees many times represent positions of power or people.  Those who have achieved power will often use others who are in power to carry out whatever they want to do.  Relying on government instead of God is definitely not a sure way to protect oneself from injustice. 

Jud 9:46  And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard [that], they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith (god of covenants or human government).  47  And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of  Shechem were gathered together.  48  And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that [were] with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid [it] on his shoulder, and said unto the people that [were] with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, [and] do as I [have done].  49  And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put [them] to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women. 

17.  Even though unjust people may achieve notoriety, their end will be shame.  All those who desire to be powerful, and use injustice to obtain it, will eventually be destroyed in their attempt to maintain it.  The town of Thebez means “conspicuous” based on a root word, which means, “to bleach white.”  All injustice will eventually be brought to justice.  This is absolutely true since, if justice has not occurred prior to the end of time, all men will be judged according to their works on the day of judgment.  Instead of becoming someone of importance, those that do injustice will find that it leads to shame and humiliation.  In biblical times, to be killed by a woman was one of the most shameful things that could happen to a man.  God has a way of putting those who do injustice in their place.  A person who thinks he can do injustice and get away with it should realize that it will eventually destroy him.  Abimelech’s skull (thinking) was crushed. 

Jud 9:50  Then went Abimelech to Thebez (conspicuous), and encamped against Thebez, and took it.  51  But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut [it] to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.  52  And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.  53    And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull. 

18.  Suicide and destruction will be the eventual end of evil men.  In his shame, Abimelech had his armor bearer kill him.  Trusting in injustice is a form of committing suicide.  It can only bring more injustice, shame, and disaster on one’s life. 

Jud 9:54  Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.      

19.  When we trust God, He always brings justice in the end.  Although we might not see it as clearly as it is described in this story; when we turn an injustice over to God, He works behind the scenes to bring justice.  Eventually justice will prevail and the workers of injustice will receive the vengeance that they deserve.  God is a God of justice, and the success of His entire creation depends on it.  Those that violate it are cursed.  

Jud 9:56  Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: 57  And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Steps for Overcoming Injustice         

1.  We must trust in God to lead and direct our lives. 

2.  Human governments based on selfishness can never guarantee true justice.

3.  Selfishness and struggles for power are the seeds of injustice. 

4.  We are to confront injustice when it occurs. 

5.  If we are treated unjustly, we are to turn our situation over to God by forgiving the offender and rely primarily on Him to bring us justice and peace.

6.  It takes time, but justice will eventually prevail. 

7.  The seeds of injustice will consume those who do injustice and will eventually result in judgment against those who do evil.