Why does God allow the wicked to prosper, as mentioned in Job 22:18? Text and Immediate Context of Job 22:18 Eliphaz rebukes Job, asserting that the wicked say of God, “Yet He filled their houses with good things” (Job 22:18 a). Eliphaz then adds, “But it was far from me to counsel the wicked” (22:18 b). His claim rests on a partial truth: God does, at times, allow evildoers material abundance. His error lies in applying this principle as proof that Job must therefore be wicked. The verse raises the perennial question: Why does God sometimes permit the ungodly to thrive? A Recurrent Scriptural Observation • Job 21:7 — “Why do the wicked live on, grow old, and increase in power?” • Psalm 73:3–5 — “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked… They are free of the burdens common to man.” • Jeremiah 12:1 — “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” Across the canon, God acknowledges that temporal success may accompany moral rebellion. Scripture never hides the tension; instead, it interprets it through God’s character, redemptive timeline, and final judgment. God’s Sovereign Forbearance and Common Grace Matthew 5:45 states that the Father “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” This “common grace” preserves human society so the gospel can advance (Acts 17:26–27). Romans 2:4 adds that God’s kindness is meant to lead sinners to repentance. Prosperity, then, is not divine endorsement; it is divine patience (2 Peter 3:9). Temporal Prosperity vs. Ultimate Accountability Psalm 73 turns on verse 17: “until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.” The wicked may enjoy health, wealth, or influence, but it is “like a dream when one awakes” (73:20). Hebrews 9:27 reminds that “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that to face judgment.” Final justice is certain (Acts 17:31); delay does not equal neglect. Purifying and Proving the Righteous First Peter 1:6–7 affirms that trials “prove the genuineness” of believers’ faith, which is “more precious than gold.” Observing the ungodly flourish can expose envy (Psalm 73:21–22), redirect hope to Christ (Colossians 3:1–4), and deepen trust in God’s unseen purposes (2 Corinthians 4:17–18). Demonstrating the Futility of Earth-Bound Security Ecclesiastes 8:11–13 notes that when sentence against evil is delayed, hearts grow bold in sin; yet “it will not be well for the wicked, nor will they lengthen their days like a shadow.” Apparent success becomes evidence in God’s courtroom that sinners treasured gifts over the Giver (Romans 1:21–25). Christological Fulfillment of Justice At the cross, ultimate innocence suffered while earthly powers appeared to triumph (Luke 23:35). God then reversed the verdict through the bodily resurrection (Luke 24:6; 1 Corinthians 15:4). The empty tomb is the pledge that every moral account will be balanced: “He has set a day when He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed, having furnished proof to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Philosophical and Behavioral Perspective Behavioral research confirms that material prosperity does not guarantee well-being; rising affluence often plateaus or decreases life satisfaction (cf. Easterlin Paradox). Scripture anticipated this: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). God’s allowance of fleeting riches exposes their inability to meet deepest human needs and thus serves evangelistic purpose. Practical Counsel for Believers 1. Guard the heart against envy (Proverbs 23:17). 2. Anchor hope in the coming kingdom (Hebrews 13:14). 3. Pray for the wicked to repent while grace is extended (1 Timothy 2:1–4). 4. Model contentment and generosity as antidotes to covetousness (1 Timothy 6:6–10,17–19). Conclusion Job 22:18 records a fact misapplied by Eliphaz: God may allow the wicked temporal success. Scripture answers the “why” through divine patience, common grace, testing of saints, exposure of idolatry, and assurance of final judgment secured by Christ’s resurrection. The prosperity of the wicked is therefore neither accidental nor unchecked; it is woven into a larger redemptive plan that culminates in the glory and justice of God. |
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