Is God Fair?

"In view of Romans chapter 9 have you ever wondered whether God plays fair?"

Of course I've wondered whether God plays fair. I don't know if fair is what God is shooting for. I know God is just. I know God is love. But a "fair" God would not have allowed me to grow up in group homes. A "fair" God would not have allowed a philandering politician to cheat on his wife some 70 years ago and have an illegitimate child whom he then ignored. A "fair" God would not have allowed a musical child prodigy to gradually go deaf.

A "fair" God would not have allowed a barren couple to have a baby and then force the dad to attempt to sacrifice his son. A "fair" God would not have allowed a liar from a family of liars to be the genesis of God's chosen nation. A "fair" God would not have allowed a murderer and an adulterer to be labeled as a man after God's own heart. A "fair" God would not have ordered a man to marry a prostitute and still require him to preach to His chosen people.

A "fair" God would not have allowed a persecutor to write most of the New Testament. A "fair" God would not have allowed a Jesus denier to preach the first Gospel sermon. A "fair" God would not have allowed His new people to be persecuted by the Jews AND the Romans.

And a "fair" God absolutely, positively, most certainly would not have allowed His only Son to die for the sins of all mankind.

The wonderful thing in all of this is that God is merciful, not just "fair." He is merciful in that the group home resident is now able to minister to inmates in a county jail. He is merciful in that the illegitimate child became a great gospel preacher. He is merciful in that He gave us some of Beethoven's greatest works AFTER the composer went deaf.

He is merciful in that many nations were raised from that barren family. He is merciful in giving imperfect people a chance to take part in His Kingdom.

He is merciful in redeeming us with His only Son.

I'm thankful that God is more merciful than fair.