Job asks: “Why does God allow wicked people to live, grow old and even grow mighty in power?” (Job 21:7). In other words, why do the wicked prosper? The friends had been saying that the Lord punishes the wicked in their lifetime (Job 8:12-14; 15:20-24; 18:5-18). Therefore, Job asks the question, and although his question is addressed to the friends, it is a question that is often asked by folks, who mourn over loved ones, who have been cut off in the prime of life, or even long before that time. They are innocent, good people. Yet, God took them and continues to permit the wicked to go on living, growing ever mightier in power and influence. Where is the justice in this? What is God thinking? Any child could see that this isn’t fair.
Life during the time of the friends wasn’t all that different from today in terms of the wicked being punished. Indeed, many, perhaps most, criminals are on the run, and they do get punished. Our prisons are full of wicked people, so their lives aren’t spent under the blessing of God. Yet, this doesn’t tell the whole story, and that’s Job’s point. Life is peaceful for many wicked folks, in terms of their living without fear of punishment. The Lord’s chastening rod, though quick to discipline the righteous, never seems to be upon these wicked, powerful people. Why is that? Moreover, their families seem to keep growing, and it seems the names of these folks, who live without even a thought given to God, will go on for many generations (Job 21:8-9).
For them, life is spontaneously joyful and unimaginably prosperous! Everything they touch seems to be successful in terms of increasing their wealth, living a pleasurable life and giving their families enviable lives, in which they enjoy opportunities not experienced by most people who aren’t wicked. Instead of living under a curse, they seem to be blessed by God (Job 21:10-12; Exodus 23:26; Deuteronomy 7:13-14; 28:11). Why? What is God doing?
Not only do these wicked folks live out their lives in prosperity, they die peaceful deaths. They go down to the grave fulfilled, having enjoyed all of what this world has to offer a man who is blessed, yet they never seem to be troubled by life’s misfortunes (Job 21:13). Indeed, they never have a thought whereby they consider God or his ways, but, if they would, they turn away, not wanting to have any knowledge of him whatsoever (Job 21:14; Romans 1:28). They push him away, believing their ways are more profitable than anything that could be gained through prayer (Job 21:15). Because they have such contempt for the presence of God in their lives, the Lord accommodates them by leaving them to their own devises.
Without a check on their behavior from him, their lives become filled with every kind of unrighteousness and wickedness (Romans 1:29-31). Claiming to be wise, believing they know what is good for themselves and what is not, they have become fools, exchanging the presence of God for prosperity in this world’s goods Romans 1:22-23). The truth about the wicked has become falsified. Enjoying creation without the Creator only leads to a shameful life (Romans 1:24-27). While they believe this is good, it is not. Although they appear to be blessed, they are not, because their prosperity, which they gained through wicked means, isn’t secured through their own power. It is secured or permitted by God, but not for their good (Job 21:16).
They treasure up judgment for themselves later (cp. Luke 12:18-21). In other words, there must yet be a day of reckoning. This life can’t be all there is, if God intends to judge the evil done here. Consider the fact that Adam and Eve lived life without being judged, prior to the rebellion in Genesis 3. We know that Adam sinned by lying to Eve. He misrepresented God, saying the Lord demanded that no one touch the tree. Therefore, man was free to learn the difference between good and evil, without judgment, as long as God had input in their lives.
Rebellion changed that, and rebellion was judged in Eden by casting mankind, vis-à-vis criminal behavior, out of God’s presence, which is symbolized by the Garden in which he originally placed mankind. Therefore, although many are judged and rewarded in this life, it seems clear that God couldn’t be judging everyone’s behavior now. True judgment, perfect judgment, judgment that includes rewards promised to the righteous, must occur beyond the grave. We don’t have all the answers, now, but we do know that this life isn’t fair, not always and not in all things. Therefore, if we believe in a righteous and just God, no matter what he is doing here now, his work extends beyond what is done in our lives today.
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