What Does the Bible Say About Unjust Suffering?
Has anyone seen the remake of the movie, Ben Hur? Set in the first century, it’s a classic case of unjust suffering. A peace-loving Jewish man, named Judah Ben Hur, is falsely accused by his adopted brother, Messala, a high-ranking Roman soldier, of collaborating with the Zealots. Judah Ben Hur is sentenced to a lifetime of hard labor, while his family is sentenced to death. As he’s chained to a Roman battleship, rowing continuously for five years, what was Judah Ben Hur thinking? It may be similar to what goes through our minds when we experience unjust suffering.
Why is this happening to me?
How could a loving God allow this hardship?
Why aren’t you doing something about this, God?
In Judges 9, one of Gideon’s sons, Jotham, may have had the same thoughts after his brother, Abimelek, ruthlessly murdered his 70 brothers with one stone. He did this to eliminate any other heirs to the throne, making himself King. Only Jotham escaped. Jotham comes out of hiding briefly to talk some sense into the people who went along with this evil plan.
“Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal (Gideon) and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves?” Later, Jotham said, “But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!” (Judges 9:16-20)
After pronouncing the curse on the people, Jotham scurries back to his hiding place. Nothing happens for three long years.
Three years.
That’s seems like forever.
How long have you been waiting for a change?
Do you think Jotham felt like God had forgotten him?
Is that how you feel right now?
Let me encourage you.
God sees us in the midst of unjust suffering. Sometimes the reason he allows it to go on for an indefinite period of time is so he can do a refining work in us.
Psalm 66:10-12 says, “For you have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.”
Unjust suffering reveals the genuineness of our faith, and when we prevail over our trials, Christ is glorified (1 Peter 1:3-7).
After three years in hiding, God acted on Jotham’s prayers and righteousness prevailed. He turned the people against Abimelek, and Abimelek was killed with one stone. Sound familiar? Only this time, a woman dropped a stone on Abimelek’s head. Humiliated to be slain by a woman, Abimelek summoned his armor bearer to run him through with his sword so no one would say a woman killed him (Guess what, Abimelek. That didn’t work. You need to read Judges 9).
So justice is realized, but it took a while.
When as Christians, we experience unjust suffering, through prayer we need to leave it in God’s hands, no matter how long it takes. Romans 12:19 says, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wraith, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
We have to trust God is for us, and during periods of unjust suffering, the Lord wants to know if we’re for him. He is testing our allegiance and developing Godly character at the same time.
So if you’re going through a period of unjust suffering, here are some things you can do:
- Participate with God in an introspection. Ask him, “Is there something in my lifestyle you are displeased with? Sometimes it takes a period of unjust suffering to get our attention before we’ll conduct a self-analysis.
- Maybe you’re like Jotham. You’ve been obedient and have done your best to live a righteous life, then ask the question of God, “What do you want me to learn from this?” When God miraculously removes the suffering you are experiencing, it may be a faith-building experience, one you will always go return to.
- Ask God individually, and through corporate prayer to remove the suffering, then trust his timing. The Word says to be patient in affliction. In my own life, I finally came to the point that there’s a good reason for the suffering, and that God is going to work good out of it. He always has. Periods of suffering make up our testimonies. They mold our character to be more Christ-like, and often represent major directional changes.
God is your Heavenly Father, and your Earthly Defender., but he wants you to still believe that when life turns upside down. Will you trust him the next time you face a period of unjust suffering? Will others see your faith shining through? I believe the greater the trial, the greater the calling God has on your life.