Thoughts on Job chapter 24
“Why doesn’t the Almighty bring the wicked to judgment? Why must the godly wait for him in vain?
Job 24:1NLT
One of the tests we can expect to encounter in our journey of faith is the trust test. The dictionary defines trust as firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. Without trusting God, a life of misery is nearly inevitable, especially as we see many things at variance with our expectations in our world today.
In Job chapter 24, Job continues speaking his thoughts aloud and complains against the violence God permits to occur on the earth. His litany is built on 6 areas, which majorly centred on the oppression of the innocent and the persecution of the defenseless by the wicked, as he highlighted example after example their deeds. He questioned why those who do evil seem to escape speedy judgement, but it looks as though God grants them security.
Essentially, Job debates the age-old questions: How can righteous God allow the ungodly to prosper? And why is there such a long delay in punishment?
Job didn’t stop at questions, but also in verses 18 to 21, he offered God “advice ” on how he should judge the wicked.
In a way, this chapter of the book of Job reminds us of Psalms 73 where Asaph was troubled about the prosperity of the wicked, until he went to the house of God, and understood their end (he received spiritual insight in God’s presence).
Brethren, it is true that we know in part, and indeed from time to time, questions do arise in our hearts, which we can not explain. However, in our journey with God, we must understand that there is no such thing as trusting God without unanswered questions. If we have all the answers to all questions, then we would have no need to trust God.
As long as God is training us to trust, there will always be things in our lives we simply do not understand, for us to pass the trust test. Faced with such moments, it’s easy to get frustrated, particularly when it seems God is not saying anything or heaven is silent on the matter.
So, rather than get confused and give up or fail, our disposition should be, “God, I don’t understand, but I trust you.” And while waiting for that insight that we need from Him, we just go on doing what He has already told us to do.
The Apostles in Acts chapter 1 were concerned and had questions about the restoration of a physical kingdom to Israel in line with their expectations. However, Jesus redirected them not to focus on what has nothing to do with them at that hour, instead to focus on what He has told them to do- “be His witnesses”.
I believe the same answer that the Lord Jesus gave them aligns well with our previous conclusion as to the disposition we should have as He trains us to trust.
[6] Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” [7] And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. [8] But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts1.6-8.NKJV
