“That’s not fair!” my 4-year-old granddaughter emphatically declared as she crossed her arms across her chest and glared at me. I had just answered ‘no’ to her request and she was not happy about it. This has become a frequent response from her as she is learning that she can’t always have what she wants. In her young mind she feels we’re being unkind and unloving. We’re being mean; mistreating her.
WORLD FILLED WITH OPPRESSION
From an adult’s perspective I can sympathize with the feeling of unfairness and injustice. Many of us can recall a time of feeling like the underdog, perhaps being bullied or ridiculed, taken advantage of. Life can be harsh. People can be unkind and uncaring, downright mean. The world is filled with oppression and abuse of the lowly and down-trodden. And it’s not just in other parts of the world; it’s happening in our own communities.
In the Bible, we see repeated acts of injustice and God’s response to them. In the book of Amos, chapters 1 and 2, the prophet warns of God’s judgment on those who had sinned against the nation of Israel. The people of Israel had been beaten down, taken into exile, sold as slaves and attacked cruelly by their enemies. At the same time, those same enemies had ridiculed the nation of Israel for its misfortunes. No wonder that Israelites rejoiced when the nations of Aram, Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon and Moab were all judged for their own wickedness. However, the Israelites were not innocent. Harsh judgment was pronounced on them as well as the other nations for their rejection of God’s laws, idol worship and oppression of the poor.
GOD HEARS THE CRIES OF THE HURTING
The Israelites had experienced a period of prosperity that had made them complacent in their devotion to God. This prosperity brought corruption, greed, cruelty and indifference to their brothers and sisters living in poverty. He doesn’t overlook those who cause offense to the vulnerable or seek to crush those who can’t defend themselves. God hears the cries of the hurting. God does not overlook any sin. He will seek justice. The Father cares how his children are treated. He responds to the helpless and defenseless in their sorrow. Hear the words of the Psalmist in chapter 10, verses 17-18 “Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so people can no longer terrify them.”(NLT) God is always for us. He will rescue us in times of oppression. Hear His promise in Amos 9:14 “I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again.”(NLT)
GOD CAN BE TRUSTED
Are you experiencing suffering or mistreatment at the hands of others? Do you feel helpless when you see the cruelty and oppression others are experiencing in today’s world? Are you emphatically declaring, “That’s not fair”? Be assured that God can and will enact justice. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 ESV) God can be trusted.