Few things are more maddening than to see a bad guy get ahead. It’s so effective at igniting emotion that Hollywood regularly uses it as the primary point of conflict in movie plots. The “can you believe” question always evokes a response. In the Bible, Job experienced this when he questioned God, “Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?” (Job 21:7). Jeremiah cried, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?” (Jer. 12:1). And Malachi lamented, “And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape” (Mal. 3:15). They were as passionate about injustice as you are.
There are a number of ways to respond to it. The less mature and plainly sinful reaction is to be consumed with anger, to lash out or to gossip about it. A more mature response is to take comfort in the ultimate justice of God. Perhaps you have harnessed your anger, you don’t openly complain and you manage to keep your mouth shut when you don’t have anything good to say. Those outward forms of restraint are commendable, but insufficient if, in your heart, you are relishing the the verses about God’s judgment being poured out on the unjust. A heart that longs for God’s righteousness is different than one that is eager to see individuals penalized.
One reason it is wise to keep those two things separate is played out in the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. Naaman was the commander of a Syrian army that was afflicted with leprosy. A servant girl told him to see the Israelite man of God, the prophet Elisha, to be cured of his affliction. The Syrians and Israelites were not friends. Israel was God’s chosen people and the Syrians were not. In fact, Naaman went to Elisha begrudgingly and after he received the prophet’s instructions, he threw a fit and was about to angrily pout his way back home. Eventually, he did what he was told and was cured. Not only was he cured physically, but also spiritually. Naaman became a wholly devoted follower of Jehovah! A powerful man that was ethnically, physically and spiritually outside the kingdom of God was brought into it and became His faithful servant among the highest leaders of a foreign land.
The account includes an interesting twist. Naaman was so grateful for this turn of spiritual events that he offered Elisha money. The prophet declined but Elisha’s servant had a greedy heart. He chased after Naaman, told him that Elisha wanted money after all and accepted gifts from the commander. Elisha confronted the servant who lied again and then was punished with the very leprosy that Naaman was cleansed of.
The point is that, yes, righteous anger is real. Christians are told to “abhor what is evil.” However, it is the believer’s responsibility to pray that God would mete out His justice and not that He would mete out your justice. The problem is that we oversimplify situations and are guided by sinful inclinations. God, however, is working out His perfect plan and executing His perfect justice in His perfect timing.
Naaman was an enemy of Israel that ascended to power in an unrighteous nation. Elisha’s servant was ethnically a part of God’s people and a right-hand man to one of the most storied men of God in the Bible. In the end, though, it was Naaman whose heart was cleansed and who was put into service for the King. The servant’s evil heart was exposed and he paid a heavy, yet righteous, price. In God’s wisdom He “flipped the script,” revealing there was a wolf in sheep’s clothing in Elisha’s servant, but by the grace of God, a sheep in wolf’s clothing in Naaman.
When your emotional fire is stoked by injustice, go immediately to prayer. Ask God to make things right in His way and in His timing. Then seek the peace that only He can give.