January 24, 2022

Job 24: 1 (NIV)

“Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment? Why must those who know him look in vain for such days?”

I beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden.*

Job wants to know how people can get away with the awful things they do. He lists some of their atrocities: move boundary stones; steal flocks; cheat orphans and widows out of their possessions; rebel against the light; kill the poor and needy; think they can get away with adultery; break into houses; make friends with the terrors of darkness. I would add to the list: human trafficking and religious persecution.

I wish I knew the answer to Job’s questions. When bad things happen to bad people we shrug. But when bad people get away with doing bad things – and actually prosper, we wonder, “What is God thinking?” Sure, we acknowledge that our perspective is limited by our human-ness but couldn’t life be a little more fair?

What would happen if life really was fair? Would that be a good thing? If we all got what we deserved, we would have to pay the price for our own sin.

Perhaps fairness is overrated.

God can use injustice as well as justice to accomplish his will.*