Article February 25, 2008 Issue

Set free BY THE HIGHER LAW of GOD

BY JILL GOODING

Examples of injustice surround us—people accused of acts they didn't commit, some of them unjustly arrested and imprisoned, and their characters defamed. Many have experienced, or are currently experiencing, individual injustices in this way. Also, segments of communities or nations are unfairly treated, as, for example, in Darfur, where more than three years of fighting have destroyed hundreds of villages and displaced over 2.2 million people. Despite widespread awareness of human rights violations there, attempts to right the situation have brought few, or inadequate, results.

Injustice is not new. Throughout history it would appear that the innocents have suffered. The Bible shows that thousands of years ago, people who had done nothing wrong were falsely accused. Daniel was thrown into a den of lions for worshipping a God of good. The three Hebrews Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace for the same reason. Joseph lived a pure and upright life, yet he was thrown into prison for a crime he didn't commit. And perhaps illustrating the greatest of all injustices, Jesus, who had healed and blessed multitudes, was ignominiously and publicly crucified. None of those individuals' experiences was pleasant, yet each resulted in freedom and victory, through God's power and grace.

People in such circumstances are always tempted to ask: "Why me? What have I done wrong?" Perhaps the more pertinent question should be: "What have I done right?" And there is a higher law of justice that can remove these impositions of injustice—the higher law of God. As the Bible says, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen. 18:25). The Father-Mother of us all preserves His children through such experiences. Testing times often lead to convincing proofs of God's protection, and bring blessings not only for those involved, but also for the wider community.

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