For sometime now when reading global news updates, I’ve been consumed with an overwhelming sense of evil’s presence. It’s been so disheartening. My mind repeatedly asks, “Why aren’t the evil-doers being stopped?” The arrogance of those ordering and performing wicked actions and atrocities seemingly spreads like wildfire. Where are the “good guys” to stop the “bad guys”? Where is The Lord’s retaliation? I want this evil to be stopped, punished and possibly annihilated. Whoa. Before I head down the wrong path of anger I need to stop and see what I find in the scriptures.

It didn’t take long for the Lord to remind me of the warning to Abraham in Genesis 15. That’s where we see God telling Abraham that his family will be oppressed as slaves in a foreign land for 400 years. I wonder what Abraham was thinking with that bit of news? At the end of that time Abraham’s people would be freed, the nation enslaving them would be punished, and Abraham’s family would come away with great wealth. This prophecy I know… nothing new.

It’s the easy-to-overlook second part of verse 16 that caught my eye this time. “After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction (Genesis 15:16 NLT).

Wow, does that stop me in my tracks.

Apparently, there is a measuring rod and timing in the spiritual realm that must be met before God’s hand of judgement comes down on the offender. When achieved, as we see in the book of Exodus, the right time for God’s retribution arrives. In the meantime, He doesn’t like to see His children harmed, or taken advantage of, or trapped. Yet in His righteousness, He makes sure the wicked deserve the just punishment coming their way. There are multiple scriptures supporting this but Psalm 37, specifically verse 13, is what caught my eye. It certainly gives me a different perspective. Seeing the wicked harming and conniving, God finds humor in it. Not because of the harm done to His beloveds, but because unknowingly the enemy is punching another hole in their ticket to complete, final, and righteous judgment. Not good for them.

There are times I mourn for days with tears and prayers for the losses that occur. Even thinking, surely this should be enough to satisfy the penalty hour glass. But, no retribution comes. Then I realize its not the right time for punishment. So, I thank the Lord that the enemies of God are one step closer to their demise and the end of their evil-power-seeking ways.

Between Genesis 15 and Psalm 37, my perspective on current events has changed. Yes, there is wickedness happening. And I don’t like. But, God is keeping an account of everything the wicked are doing and just punishment awaits them. Oh the wicked may think they have one up on God, that their secret plans are full proof. What they fail to understand is that God has the final word. They may not have heard… God wins.

For years I’ve heard God has a revival coming along with an unknown good for His children. I can’t wait to see that. And, I praise Jesus for it. Yet, from my limited perspective, I can see for this to occur, the pervasive evil existing today must be pushed aside or removed. How God is going to do this, I have no idea. Keep in mind, in His Word, He has said this switch will happen. So it will come to pass. (Isaiah 46:10) But, what if… those performing these disturbing actions turn from their wicked ways and find Jesus? What a miracle we’d witness! Imagine the good coming from that.

I trust God to know when it is the right time for punishment. I know He has the best planned for us. However, it doesn’t mean we won’t go through some trials before we get there. We will arrive at the point that good surrounds us and God is glorified throughout the earth. As I have said for years… There is always hope. And Almighty God is the source of HOPE.