With a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.

Psalms 136:12

Does God care about the oppressed?

Much has been said about His mighty hand that He actively moves on behalf of the suffering and afflicted of this cruel world, but why are there so many people suffering under abusive conditions all over the world?

The fact is that this world is very unfair. Injustice and exploitation prevail everywhere, and at all levels of life. Uncountable number of people are denied fair wages for their labor, and millions work under extreme and difficult conditions without proper protection or insurance cover. In many places, women are abused and used by men. Children are neglected and deprived of proper nutrition, education, and the necessities of life. Christians, yes Christians, are misled and exploited by the very shepherds responsible for their care and spiritual nourishment. Where is God in all of this?

This is an ageless question that continues to make rounds wherever an oppressive situation hits the headlines, and it will continue until Christ comes. It is not that God doesn’t care to relieve the suffering with an answer. He cares for the underprivileged, oppressed, and marginalized everywhere, and He answers in so many ways. Even in His silence, His answers come to the trusting servant. The Bible is replete with examples of how God dealt with the cry of His suffering people in many ways. Your situation will show up somewhere, if you patiently walk through it with the Holy Spirit. They have been recorded for our sake, that we may know and continue to trust Him, even in our darkest hours.

Take the example of the prophet Habakkuk. Violence, injustice, cruelty, strife, conflict, and other wrongs were rife in his time, and he had a serious conversation with God about them. God responded that He misses nothing in this world, and that His response is always reserved for an appointed time: “Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (Hab. 2:3)

Consider Israel in Egypt. They grew under favorable conditions until a new king came who did not know Joseph. He oppressed them with hard labor (Ex. 1:8-14). Israel cried to God concerning their situation for so many years until finally, God raised Moses to deliver them. Not only did God deliver them with a mighty and outstretched hand (Ex.6:6), He compensated them for their slave labor (3:21-22; 12:35-36). There is quintessential Job you cannot miss, Asaph in Psalm 73, and many others.

The fact is that God has a plan for this world, and every situation we experience is part of this ultimate plan. He may not seem fair in many cases, but He is never unjust. He still asks us to trust Him even when we don’t understand. It is all about His sovereignty. God is perfectly good and just. He walks through all our situations with us (Is. 43:1-2), assuring us not to ever leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5-6). It is a promise you can draw comfort from and say with David, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Ps. 23:4). ”