Where is God when evil goes unpunished?

In Malachi 2:17 through 3:7, God’s people accuse Him of ignoring evil. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt faces an honest question: where is the God of justice when the wicked seem to win?

The people had grown cynical, even claiming that God delights in evildoers. God answers with a promise: He will send His messenger to prepare the way, and the Lord will “suddenly come to His temple.” Dr. Holt explains that the question is not whether God’s justice will come, but when. Like a refiner’s fire, God purifies His people, and at the cross the judgment our sins deserved was poured out on Christ. Delayed justice, he reminds us, is not justice abandoned.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did the people think God ignored evil? Because the wicked seemed to prosper while the faithful suffered. They mistook God’s patience for indifference.

2. What was God’s answer? That He would surely come — first through His messenger, then in person. His justice is certain, even when it seems delayed.

3. How does the cross relate to God’s justice? At the cross, the judgment our sins deserved fell on Christ instead. God’s justice was fully satisfied there for all who trust in Him.

“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight.” — Malachi 3:1 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Malachi Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.