Special Sunday Edition
Ethan Barton, Pastoral Resident, Tallowood Baptist Church
“Why do bad things happen to good people?” It’s one of the most ridiculous questions we ask. Unless we’re asking why they happened to Jesus himself, that is. But for the rest of us, it’s simply because we’re not good people. God owes us nothing. Praise God for the gospel of grace, but let us not forget that by his very nature, God punishes disobedience and wickedness. God hates injustice.
Though the bulk of Amos’ prophecies are aimed at Israel, he opens by addressing the nations that surround them—Damascus, Philistia, Phoenicia, Edom, Amnon, and Moab. All of them had committed atrocities against God’s people. But God had promised Israel that he would avenge any harm done to them, and he is faithful to keep his promises.
The Israelites would have heard these prophecies as a comfort. We should see them as a comfort as well! As we his people war against the forces of this world and are overwhelmed by evil of every kind, We can remember that God has not forgotten us. Not only does he restore us and wipe every tear from our eye, but he also claims victory over the forces of evil and banishes them from his creation.
Many of the biblical prophets such as Amos may be hard for us to digest because of all the talk of condemnation. But they remind us of a key aspect of God’s goodness. He is just, he hates injustice, and he is faithful to take vengeance on oppressors of his beloved people. May we hate injustice as much as he does, and live with thankfulness that in his goodness he abolishes it!
