God's Justice

Have you ever looked at the world and wondered, “Where is the justice?” You see wrongdoing rewarded, dishonesty overlooked, and suffering left unaddressed. In times like these, it’s easy to feel like God is absent or indifferent to the world’s problems. The people of Israel felt the same way during Malachi’s time. They accused God of injustice, asking, “Where is the God of justice?” (Malachi 2:17).

But in Malachi 2:17–3:5, God answers their complaint, not by defending Himself but by declaring His plan—a plan to bring justice, purification, and restoration. He promises to send His Messenger, who will prepare the way for His coming. That Messenger, fulfilled in John the Baptist, points us to the ultimate Messenger of the covenant, Jesus Christ. Through Him, God’s justice is revealed in full.

In Malachi 2:17, we find the people of Israel making a bold accusation against God: “You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you ask, ‘How have we wearied Him?’ When you say, ‘Everyone who does what is evil is good in the Lord’s sight, and He is delighted with them, or else where is the God of justice?’” Israel had grown impatient, frustrated by what seemed to be God’s delay in punishing the wicked. Their question revealed a lack of trust in God’s timing and a misunderstanding of His patience.

Yet, as 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, “The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” God’s justice is not absent; it is unfolding in His perfect timing, giving all people the opportunity to turn to Him in repentance.

God’s response to Israel’s complaint comes in Malachi 3:1: “See, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, the Messenger of the covenant you delight in—see, He is coming, says the Lord of Armies.” This promise is a prophecy of both John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, and Jesus Himself, the ultimate “Messenger of the covenant.”

In Matthew 11:10, Jesus confirms this connection when He says, “This is the one about whom it is written: See, I am sending My messenger ahead of You; he will prepare Your way before You.” John the Baptist prepared the way, but Jesus fulfilled God’s ultimate plan of justice and redemption through His life, death, and resurrection.

But God’s justice doesn’t stop at His arrival. In Malachi 3:2-3, we see a promise of refinement: “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s bleach. He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.”

God’s justice begins with purification, starting with the priests and extending to all of His people. Like a refiner’s fire that removes impurities from gold, God’s work in us can be painful, but it is ultimately for our good. As Hebrews 12:10-11 reminds us, “He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” God’s justice isn’t just about punishing sin; it’s about transforming hearts and making us holy.

Finally, in Malachi 3:4-5, God promises ultimate justice: “I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker, the widow, and the fatherless, and against those who deny justice to the resident alien. They do not fear Me, says the Lord of Armies.”

This comprehensive judgment includes both personal sin, like dishonesty and adultery, and societal sins, like oppression and injustice. God’s justice is not just a warning but a comfort, assuring us that He will set all things right. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 25:31-32: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”

So what does this mean for us today? First, it challenges us to trust God’s timing. His delays are not indifference but patience, giving us and others the opportunity to repent. Second, it reminds us to submit to God’s refining work. His justice begins in our hearts, removing anything that doesn’t honor Him. Finally, it calls us to align our lives with His righteousness. Whether it’s standing up for the oppressed or confessing personal sin, we are called to reflect God’s justice in all we do.