Judgments

The judgments of God refer to his specific acts of divine punishment within history — distinct from the final eschatological judgment. They include the expulsion from Eden (Gen. 3:14–24), the Flood (Gen. 6–8), the confusion of languages at Babel (Gen. 11:1–9), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19), the ten plagues on Egypt (Ex. 7–12), the judgments of the wilderness period against faithless Israel, and ultimately the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles (2 Kings 17; 25) which the prophets consistently interpreted as covenant consequences.

The OT presents these judgments as both punitive and remedial — intended to bring repentance and restore covenant relationship when possible. Amos 4:6–12 lists successive judgments that God sent to bring Israel back to himself, followed by the refrain "yet you did not return to me." The NT frames the cross itself as God's judgment on sin borne by Christ (Rom. 3:25–26; 2 Cor. 5:21), so that those who are in Christ are no longer under condemnation (Rom. 8:1).