About 3.1 million children around the world die from undernutrition every year.[1] Natural disasters kill around 90,000 people and affect millions more.[2] In 2017, 17.79 million people died from different cardiovascular diseases, 9.56 million people died from cancer, and over 405,000 people were killed by another human being.[3] These numbers are absolutely devastating, and they lead people to ask questions, like “How could a good God let an innocent child die? Where was God in this disaster? How could God let these murderers continue to live?”
We’re not the only ones who ask these questions. People in the Bible asked God the same thing (Jeremiah 12:1, Psalm 89:46). We know God is good, but sometimes we don’t understand why He lets certain things happen. It just doesn’t seem fair.
But God is fair. He is just.
“The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4, ESV
Our God is just! Everything He does is just. He loves justice and hates what is wrong (Isaiah 61:8). God mourns when His people suffer on this earth. It wasn’t supposed to be this way! God created the earth good (Genesis 1-2), but sin corrupted the earth and everything in it (Genesis 3, Romans 8:22). Because of sin, children run out of food. Because of sin, hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis ravage the livelihoods of many. Because of sin, human bodies don’t always work as they should. Because of sin, hatred rules the hearts of men. God hates sin and its effects. And He has a plan-
“The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.” Nahum 1:3a
God does not let the guilty walk free. He is slow to anger and patient, giving them an opportunity to repent from their sin (2 Peter 3:9). But if they don’t repent, they will be punished. Even if they don’t receive punishment on this earth, they will receive their full and just punishment after they leave this life. God does not forsake His people. He preserves them, redeems them, and He will avenge any injustice done to them (Psalm 37:28). We have hope for a future glory and freedom from all suffering (Romans 8:18-23)!
This future hope is surely something to rejoice about, but what are we to do on this broken earth while we wait for that hope to come? The prophet Micah answers this question clearly,
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
We are to pursue the justice of others. And this isn’t just a suggestion. It’s a requirement. We are to serve those who have been orphaned or widowed (James 1:27). We are to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit those who are sick or in prison (Matthew 25:35-40). We are to help those in need and show them what the true love of Jesus looks like. We need to share with them that God is our just Judge, and His judgement is coming soon.
When you see or hear of something unfair or unjust, remember that God’s justice is coming! He will judge those who are in sin, and He will save His children from their suffering. In the meantime, pursue justice for those around you, pray for those suffering from injustice all around the world, and praise our just God-
“The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:9-10
[1] “World Child Hunger Facts,” World Hunger Education Service, accessed October 27, 2020, https://www.worldhunger.org/world-child-hunger-facts/.
[2] “Natural events,” World Health Organization, accessed October 27, 2020, https://www.who.int/environmental_health_emergencies/natural_events/en/.
[3] Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser, “Causes of Death,” Our World in Data, updated December 2019, accessed October 27, 2020, https://ourworldindata.org/causes-of-death.
