"Why?"

The question of people who suffer grievous injustice is: "Why?" Often, it's not "Why did this happen?" but "Why didn't God step in to stop it?" The anquish of this seemingly unanswered question has caused many to be bitter, and many to stop believing in God. Though this question has confounded philosophers and fueled the fires of skeptics, those with spiritual understanding realize there are no valid grounds to doubt Him and lose faith. He has provided an answer. As with any issue that concerns God and His dealings with mankind, there is only one place to find the answer, the Bible. For those who will accept it, He has provided a reason for His apparent inaction in the face of injustice, cruelty, and suffering.

Anyone who has been the victim of horrible injustice can shake his or her fist at the sky and cry "Why did you allow what! Why didn't you stop that?!" Some have concluded that God does not have the ability to stop injustice and suffering, and others have said that He must get some twisted pleasure from allowing it to continue. The classic skeptic's taunt goes like this: "If God is good, He is not God; if God is God, He is not good." Yet we believers know and are convinced from the Scriptures that God possesses all goodness, all power, and all wisdom. He is not impotent, He is not unconcerned, and He is not capricious. Then why does He allow injustice to continue?

There is nothing wrong with asking that question, if our motives for understanding are pure and sincere. However, Malachi indicated that the Lord is "wearied" by those who ask "Where is the God of justice?" in a skeptical, faithless attitude, accusingly implying that He isn't going to do anything if people go on acting in an evil manner. (Malachi 2:17)

For the pure in heart, there are clues throughout the Bible that provide the answer to the question. Here is one: "The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished." (Nam 1:2-3 NIV) He does not, and in fact cannot, leave the guilty unpunished, because He is a God of justice. He is very concerned about injustice, but His timetable for acting is not the same as ours. Why doesn't He act immediately to put a stop to injustice? It is because He is "slow to anger."

Peter tells us that "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NIV) In other words, if God did act immediately to respond to injustice, who would not perish? We would all be found guilty, and long ago He pronounced the sentence for that verdict: death. None of us are guiltless, but God, in His great patience and kindness, does not act immediately to mete out justice. He gives all a chance to come to repentance, to experience the mercy freely offered in Jesus' name. ""If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared." (Psalm 130:3-4 NIV)

For those who have experienced His forgiveness and mercy, the record of sins has been expunged. If He were not a God of mercy, if the only question was a matter of justice, no one could stand before Him. "The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: "Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?" (Isaiah 33:14) But there is a pardon available from Him, and it because of His love and mercy and patience that He does not immediately pronounce sentence on all who perpetrate injustice.

The mission for which Jesus was sent to the earth the first time - the reason we do not have to perish for the inequities (iniquity) we have committed - was "that everyone who puts their trust in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life." By suffering the penalty for inquity that we deserve, Jesus made it possible for both God's justice and God's mercy to be fully realized. Paul describes it this way: "(God) did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:26 NIV) He is just, and He justifies - what a wise and awesome God!

"Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?" No,"it is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice." (Job 8:3; 34:12 NIV) The God of justice does not ignore injustice and suffering; He is just waiting for the day that He has decided to act. "For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense." (Isaiah 34:8 NASB) "The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled)." (Isaiah 2:12 NIV) ""Have I not kept this in reserve and sealed it in my vaults? It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them."" (Deuteronomy 32:34-35 NIV) If God has decided to "reserve" His execution of justice and store it away for a later date, who are we to question that?

Jesus addressed this question directly, in the context of encouraging people to be persistent in praying, not giving up. He said, "Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly." (Luke 18:7-8 NIV) That doesn't sound like a disinterested God, does it? But what Jesus said next gives us the indication of when this would happen: "However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

The coming of the Lord Jesus is the ultimate answer, and indeed the only satisfying answer to this question. Every act of cruelty, hatred, injury, oppression, and injustice will be given just retribution when Jesus appears in the clouds with great power and glory. Paul informed the Thessalonians that this was the answer to the afflictions and persecutions they were suffering. "God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed." (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 NIV)

If this answer is unsatisfactory to us now (and it certainly will be unsatisfactory to an unbeliever,) it is because we don't understand the magnitude of what will happen when Jesus returns. His incredible patience for so many years is the reason any of us have hope; but His incredible fury will be poured out when His patience is exhausted. The "day of the Lord" is His day to answer the question of injustice, and here are his instructions to us: '"Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD, "for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them-- all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.' (Zephaniah 3:8 NIV)