It’s Not Fair. How Could It Be God’s Will?
“So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me'” John 18: 11.
This passage describes the betrayal and arrest of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. It highlights His complete control and willingness to suffer. To read the passage for context, click here.
We understand, as Christians, that Christ being killed by wicked men for a crime He didn’t commit wasn’t merely allowed by God, it was His perfect will.
It’s Not Fair, but It Was God’s Will for Jesus to Be a Victim
But when you break it down, this means it was God’s will for Jesus to be treated unjustly, and unfairly by wicked men (who looked righteous). It was His idea for Him to be cruelly abused, and the victim of hate and violence.
This is hard to comprehend, because we know it’s not God’s will for people to do these things. Yet, He used men animated by the devil himself to accomplish His bidding.
In the same way, maybe the hell I went through as a child wasn’t merely something He allowed. Could He have planned it? I know that sounds scandalous. But God used disobedient, foolish men to accomplish His will and plan for Jesus, so why not me too?
But you protest! How could God’s desire be accomplished by people who were clearly wicked? I don’t know, but Jesus’ death for the sake of sinners was God’s idea.
It’s Not Fair, but God Planned It
He didn’t merely allow it, He planned it.
It obviously was not God’s will for my parents to be immoral, for my father to abandon me, my mother to be mentally ill, and a raging alcoholic. But could this have been God’s plan for me?
After all, were it not for all that, I probably would not have become a Christian, would not have felt the desperate need to be close to the Lord on a daily basis, and would not be using my gifts to accomplish His purposes.
Most importantly, I would not have eternal life.
I probably would have had an easier, more pleasant life. I would not have suffered for years on end as an adult with complicated grief.
On the other hand, I likely would not have come to know God, would not glorify Him, and would not be of use to Him.
Suffering Unjustly Not Merely Allowed
Not to beat a dead horse, but God did not merely allow Jesus to suffer and die. He willed it and planned it. Suffering unjustly was integral to the plan.
God clearly does not see suffering the way do. Apparently, He sees justification for it and deems it necessary to accomplish His will at times.
This was true for Jesus and is probably true for many of His followers as well. As unpalatable as it is, God uses wicked men, animated by the devil to accomplish His goals in the lives of His people.
Apparently, sometimes injustice, unfairness and wickedness is God’s method. It’s not His will for people to do such things, but when they do (and He knows they always will), He uses it to accomplish His purposes.
Maybe this is partly what Paul meant when he said “. . . where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” Romans 5: 20.
To read another post related to It’s Not Fair. How Could It be God’s Will? Is the Fiery Furnace for the Righteous of the Wicked?