Trusting God’s Justice

Perhaps the greatest example in Scripture of the proper response to injustice is found in the life of Joseph. Though he was cruelly treated by his own brothers—who sold him into slavery only as an alternative to killing him outright—and spent years in prison when he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph’s attitude remained one of faith. He did not take matters into his own hands and seek revenge, even when presented with the opportunity to do so when God raised him to a high and powerful position in Egypt. Joseph recognized that God had been at work even during the painful events of his life, and he was willing to trust God to settle any scores that needed to be made right.

The desire to seek revenge is natural, but as God’s children, we are called to a different way of living—trusting God to bring justice. It is interesting that even in Heaven, John saw in his vision those who had been martyred for their faith and heard them crying out for vengeance.“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:9–10).

All of us will be disappointed or mistreated at some point in our lives. In those moments of pain and anguish, we face the choice of trusting God or trying to get even. It is not wrong to desire justice, but it is wrong not to trust God for it.

Growth Principle:

If we truly trust God, our faith will extend to not trying to get even with those who do us wrong.