How can we reconcile Job 21:7 with God's justice and righteousness? Setting the Scene • Job 21:7 asks, “Why do the wicked live on, grow old, and become powerful?”. • Job’s friends insisted that prosperity always signals God’s favor and suffering always signals His displeasure; Job points to observable reality that seems to contradict their formula. • Scripture never hides this tension, yet it also never sacrifices God’s righteousness in resolving it. The Honest Question • Job’s lament echoes throughout the Bible (Psalm 73:3; Habakkuk 1:13). • The question itself is not unbelief; it is a faithful cry for understanding in light of revealed truth about God’s holy character (Deuteronomy 32:4). • God includes these questions in Scripture to invite us to wrestle honestly while holding fast to His word. Scripture’s Consistent Witness 1. Temporal prosperity does not equal divine approval – Psalm 37:1-2 “Do not fret over evildoers… For they wither quickly like grass.” 2. Ultimate justice is certain, though delayed – Ecclesiastes 8:12-13, Romans 2:4-5, James 5:5. 3. God’s patience has redemptive purpose – 2 Peter 3:9: His delay is “patience… not wanting anyone to perish.” 4. Final judgment reverses present appearances – Psalm 73:17 “Then I discerned their end.” – Luke 16:19-31: the rich man’s comfort turns to torment, Lazarus’ misery to rest. Why God May Permit Wicked Prosperity Now • Mercy and Opportunity – The prosperity of sinners is a season of grace calling them to repentance (Romans 2:4). • Display of Sovereignty – God proves He is not threatened by evil; He can overrule it for good (Genesis 50:20). • Testing and Refining the Faithful – The righteous learn to trust God’s character, not circumstances (1 Peter 1:6-7). • Magnifying Final Justice – When judgment falls, none will doubt its fairness; accumulated rebellion exposes the heart (Revelation 20:11-15). • Demonstrating the Superiority of Eternal Rewards – Hebrews 11:10 points to a “city with foundations” that outshines any earthly gain. Living by Faith, Not by Sight • Fix the mind on eternity – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: “For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory… what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” • Imitate Christ – 1 Peter 2:23: Jesus “entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.” • Cultivate contentment and vigilance – Psalm 37:7-9 calls us to “be still before the LORD… those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.” • Encourage one another – Hebrews 10:24-25 urges believers to spur each other on as “the Day approaches.” Key Takeaways • Job 21:7 does not deny God’s justice; it spotlights the need for an eternal perspective. • God’s righteousness is intact even when the wicked flourish—His timetable spans more than this life. • The prosperity of the wicked is temporary, purposeful, and ultimately self-condemning. • Believers guard their hearts by anchoring hope in God’s unchanging character and promised future. |
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