“The Lord’s way is not fair.” Every child has issued a similar complaint against their parents. What the prophet Ezekiel, and eventually Jesus, want us to understand is that God’s ways transcend our limited understanding of fairness. Take, for example, the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says we need “surpassing” holiness. One implication of surpassing holiness: whether you are the one sinned against or sinning a follower of Jesus will reach out to achieve reconciliation. How easy it is, when we feel aggrieved, to nurse a resentment. “She hurt me. I am going to wait for her apology. It’s only fair.” Jesus wants us to move beyond our notions of fairness and imitate God who forgives us whether we deserve it or not.
