What actions can we take to trust God's plan despite apparent injustices? The scene that seems unfair “But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and went to the Ammonites.” (Jeremiah 41:15) Gedaliah has been assassinated, innocent people have died, and the murderer slips away untouched. It looks as if evil wins. Yet the Lord preserved this account to teach how to keep trusting Him when injustice appears to triumph. Seeing God’s larger storyline • Jeremiah had already declared God’s plan for Judah’s exiles (Jeremiah 29:11). The escape of Ishmael does not cancel that plan. • Scripture later records God’s judgment on Ammon (Jeremiah 49:1-6). Justice came, though not immediately. • Throughout the Bible, wickedness often enjoys a momentary advantage, but never the last word (Psalm 73:3-19; Habakkuk 2:3). Actions that nurture trust when wrongs seem to prevail 1. Remember who owns justice • “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) • Releasing personal retaliation places the case in the only hands strong enough to judge perfectly. 2. Anchor your thinking in God’s Word • “Your testimonies are fully confirmed; holiness adorns Your house, O Lord, for all the days to come.” (Psalm 93:5) • Regular, focused reading realigns feelings with unchanging truth. 3. Recount past faithfulness • Joshua 4:6-7 models piling up “stones of remembrance.” Make a deliberate list of times God has overturned evil for good (Genesis 50:20). 4. Obey the next clear instruction • Johanan still led the remnant even after Ishmael’s escape (Jeremiah 41:16-18). Keep walking in revealed duties—fellowship, integrity, prayer, service—while God handles the hidden battle. 5. Cultivate patient endurance • “The vision awaits an appointed time… though it lingers, wait for it; it will surely come.” (Habakkuk 2:3) • Patience is not passive; it is active confidence that God’s timing is flawless. 6. Pray for God’s righteous kingdom to advance • Psalm 94:1-2 shows petition for divine intervention. Prayer aligns the heart with heaven’s agenda rather than earthly outrage. 7. Do good while you wait • “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) • Acts of mercy, advocacy for the oppressed, and everyday kindness testify that darkness has not won. Promises to hold tight • Proverbs 3:5-6 — He directs straight paths for those who trust. • Isaiah 55:8-9 — His ways are higher than ours. • Psalm 37:7-9 — Evildoers will fade; the meek will inherit the land. • Revelation 21:4 — A coming day with no more injustice, tears, or death. Living it out together Gather with believers who affirm these truths. Share testimonies of God’s justice, sing songs that declare His sovereignty, and serve side-by-side in ministries that push back darkness. As we practice these actions, we echo Jeremiah’s certainty that even an assassin’s escape cannot derail the sovereign, righteous plan of our faithful God. |
    |