by It’s asked, “If God is good, why does He allow bad things to happen?” This is a legitimate question from an unbelieving world, confused baby Christian, backslidden carnal Christian, or hurting mature Christian. The fact is, life is hard at best, and bad things happen to good people. Why? We live in a sin-cursed world, where bad things are going to happen, and where our faith is not an escape from worldly troubles.
In 2 Chronicles 32 we see this with Hezekiah, one of the few good kings, trying hard to do the will of God. Sennacherib, king of Assyrian, destroyed Sidon and Phoenicia. He plows through the walled cities of Judah, and marches against Jerusalem for his crowning victory against God, so he thought. In Hezekiah’s responses to Sennacherib’s approaching armies, we see a few reasons why God allows bad things to happen to good people.
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TO BRING OUT OUR BEST EFFORTS (32:1-8) Hezekiah sought wise counsel. Afterwards, he took offensive action and struck the first blow cutting off the enemy’s lifeline. Then he took defensive action by preparing the city and people for battle.
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TO BRING US TO OUR KNEES (32:9-20) Sennacherib taunted the people, mocked Hezekiah’s godliness, and “railed on the Lord God of Israel.” Hezekiah “prayed and cried to heaven.”
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TO BRING OUT OUR TESTIMONY (32:21-23) After Hezekiah did all that he could, God answered with a great victory. God destroyed the enemy and saved this good king, “in the sight of all nations.”
Applying this to us, Satan is our enemy and his lifeline is darkness. When he attacks, seek wise counsel from God’s Word, and use the armor of light to cut off his lifeline. Next, shore up our walls, build them higher, and repair our inner city as Hezekiah did. As the enemy taunts us because he cannot penetrate the fortified armor of God, we must be on our knees knowing the words of Satan are powerful and have beaten down the greatest of men. Finally, the best way to prove to the world that God is real, that our relationship with Him is valid, is how we respond when bad things come into your lives. The world is watching!
Knowing all of this, our response to bad things can make us better, stronger and wiser … or bitter, weaker and foolish!
