Have there been seasons in your life when you asked God, “Why”? Perhaps we have been in times of distress, difficulties, disappointments, perhaps we were unable to comprehend things that are happening around us and in the world, and we turned to God and asked Him, “Why”.

Job certainly did. He asked God two questions. Why is God not punishing the wicked? Why are the godly kept in the dark? It seems to Job that the wicked were prospering, and that God ought to come and judge, but He has not been doing so, why?

The rest of Job 24 described the financial sins of the wicked, the oppression upon the poor, and the sins that happens in the dark – murder, theft, adultery. The wicked seemed to be spending their lives in security and prosperity, and they do not seem to have to face any consequences of their wickedness. On the other hand, Job 24 also described the pain the victims of these wickedness felt – the poor people are forced to hide themselves, go out to seek their food, they are deprived of proper clothing and shelter, people are enslaved, people are dying and wounded by the wickedness. These vulnerable people are often exploited by the wicked. Why is God not coming to judge these wickedness that is causing so much distress?

However, at the end of all these cries for justice, Job seemed to have an answer in his heart. Job acknowledged that God was not blind to the sins of the wicked, and that justice is ultimately in the hands of God. As Spurgeon says, “God will, in the end, overthrow the ungodly, and establish the righteous”.

Do those of us who have asked “why” before have an answer in our hearts? The truth is, all of us cognitively understand that God is sovereign, and we can perhaps proclaim that He is the ruler above all. However, can we trust God when things around us seem to be going wrong, when the wicked around us seem to be prospering, when there seems to be injustice? Are we really able to trust in God’s timing of justice?

May we learn to trust in God’s perfect timing and may we learn to come before God in our times of doubt to seek His will, His way, His wisdom. At the same time, may we be sensitive to the needs of those who are on the fringe of the society and serve them. May we be a voice for those who suffer injustice and to love them as God will love them.

Prayer: Dear God, I acknowledge that you are sovereign and just. Help me to be patient and to trust in your perfect timing. Give me a heart for those who are on the fringe and for those who suffer injustice. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.