Only God Knows Why
Then Job spoke again:
Why do the wicked prosper,
Growing old and powerful?
They live to see their children grow old and settle down,
And they enjoy their grandchildren
Their homes are safe from every fear,
And God does not punish them.
Their bulls never fail to breed.
Their cows bear calves and never miscarry. . .
They spend their days in prosperity,
Then go down to the grave in peace.
And yet they say to God, 'Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.
Who is the Almighty and why should we obey Him?
What good will it do to us to pray?
(They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.) Job 21:1-16
Why do the wicked prosper,
Growing old and powerful?
They live to see their children grow old and settle down,
And they enjoy their grandchildren
Their homes are safe from every fear,
And God does not punish them.
Their bulls never fail to breed.
Their cows bear calves and never miscarry. . .
They spend their days in prosperity,
Then go down to the grave in peace.
And yet they say to God, 'Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.
Who is the Almighty and why should we obey Him?
What good will it do to us to pray?
(They think their prosperity is of their own doing, but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.) Job 21:1-16
One of the most perplexing things in life is why calamity hits the righteous whilst the"wicked" seem to have no troubles at all. There are times when we wonder why bad things happen to good people and"bad" people seem to live worry-free lives.
Job was doing some deep pondering and introspection: "Why do the wicked prosper? Why do they seem to enjoy a long life and witness the growth of their children? Why does it seem as if their possessions keep increasing? Why do people who sneer at God and question His authority seem to live in peace and go down to the grave at a ripe old age?" What is the explanation?
When we find ourselves in challenging situations, it is not unusual to ponder over the deep and unfathomable issues of life as Job was doing! The truth is, there are many unanswered questions in life which our finite human minds can never adequately unravel. But the Bible gives us some assuring glimpses into some of those issues.
The Psalmist found himself puzzled by the very questions Job was asking. Listen to his words:
"I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. . . This is what the wicked are like -- always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. Surely, in vain have I kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence." (Psalm 73:3-4)
When we focus on the issues of life for which we have no answers, our lives will be lived in envy and discontent. But when we factor in the righteousness and omnipotence of God, we will not spend time trying to fathom why the wicked prosper and the righteous seem to suffer sometimes.
The Psalmist got his answers when he sought the face of God:" "When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny." (Psalm 73:16-18). There are certain puzzles in life for which we can never secure adequate answers. But we can still live in contentment if we trust God with our situations no matter how difficult they might be. Only God knows why life has so many puzzles!
Job was doing some deep pondering and introspection: "Why do the wicked prosper? Why do they seem to enjoy a long life and witness the growth of their children? Why does it seem as if their possessions keep increasing? Why do people who sneer at God and question His authority seem to live in peace and go down to the grave at a ripe old age?" What is the explanation?
When we find ourselves in challenging situations, it is not unusual to ponder over the deep and unfathomable issues of life as Job was doing! The truth is, there are many unanswered questions in life which our finite human minds can never adequately unravel. But the Bible gives us some assuring glimpses into some of those issues.
The Psalmist found himself puzzled by the very questions Job was asking. Listen to his words:
"I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. . . This is what the wicked are like -- always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. Surely, in vain have I kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence." (Psalm 73:3-4)
When we focus on the issues of life for which we have no answers, our lives will be lived in envy and discontent. But when we factor in the righteousness and omnipotence of God, we will not spend time trying to fathom why the wicked prosper and the righteous seem to suffer sometimes.
The Psalmist got his answers when he sought the face of God:" "When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny." (Psalm 73:16-18). There are certain puzzles in life for which we can never secure adequate answers. But we can still live in contentment if we trust God with our situations no matter how difficult they might be. Only God knows why life has so many puzzles!
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, like Job and the Psalmist, I cannot understand why the righteous suffer sometimes whilst the wicked seem to prosper. Please help me to be content even in times of trials. Help me to tackle the challenges of life with grace and contentment in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.
Lord, like Job and the Psalmist, I cannot understand why the righteous suffer sometimes whilst the wicked seem to prosper. Please help me to be content even in times of trials. Help me to tackle the challenges of life with grace and contentment in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.