There are times when evil, poverty, starvation, abandonment, destruction, disasters, etc. on the earth can become overwhelming.  It can cause people to look to the sky, and cry out for God, “Where are you!?”.  “Why does this happen!?”.  There are times when personal struggles, sickness, disease, death, loss, etc. feel equally overwhelming, and we might cry out again, “God, where are you!?”.  “Why did they die!?”.  “Why am I going through this!?”.  “Why did you make me like this!?”.

In the Old Testament we can read about the evils of slavery inflicted on God’s people by Egypt for 430 years.  In Romans 9:16 Paul reviews God’s motivation for allowing Pharaoh to stubbornly resist God’s command sent through Moses to “Let My people go!”.  The bible says God raised Pharaoh up in this way to ultimately display His power to His people, so God’s Name might be proclaimed in all the earth.  Based on Pharaoh’s example, Paul asks the question in Romans 9:22, what if God bears with great patience all evil to make the riches of His glory known to all His ‘saved people’?

In Romans Ch 1, we understand God has made his invisible qualities, eternal power, and divine nature to be clearly seen in His creation by men.  Many still choose to suppress this truth by their wickedness.  Many exchange the truth of God for a lie, and God turns them over to their desires to the point where they even invent new evil ways and encourage others in wickedness.  In the end, God will destroy the objects of His wrath, and He will show great mercy to those whom He justifies through salvation in Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2:4 tells us God who loves man wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  But we also know He is the God of justice (Romans 3:25).  Once His plans and purposes are fulfilled, a final judgment day is coming when His wrath will be revealed.  In the end, He will ultimately use all men and all things, whether evil or good, saved or unsaved, to reveal His glory to those upon whom He has mercy and compassion.

Whether for Him or against Him, God is all powerful and in control.

When we watch others or personally go through difficulties and struggles, it is important that we cry out to God in our weakness, cast our burdens on Him, and make our requests known.  We can take great comfort in knowing He is God and also knowing our place with God, especially if our cry is something like Romans 9:20, “Why did you make me like this!?”.  “Who are you, O man, to talk back to God?”.  If, how and when God decides to bring wrath or mercy is up to Him.  This does not depend on man’s desire or effort.  Thankfully, God loves us beyond human measure, He gives us a choice to receive His free gift of mercy through salvation, and He sanctifies us and calls us His own children!

I know God performs miracles and uses his children to love and help men on the earth today, even though He doesn’t always do things how we may think it should be done.  I think the answer to Paul’s question in Romans 9:22 is, yes, I believe God is being patient with evil for now.  Though difficult for us to understand at times, in the end, His glory will ultimately be revealed, and all the ‘saved’ will respond appropriately to forever praise Him because He truly is God.

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
  an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.
    Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;  
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.
    Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
    he burns the shields with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.
    Selah