The Fallout

The age old question, why do bad things happen to good people, is the topic for today.  Sometimes other people make bad choices that affect innocent people around them.  That can be extremely frustrating for someone who is trying to do the right thing.  The short answer to the question above is because we all sin and God allows us to have a free will.  

Try telling that to someone who is dealing with the aftermath of someone else's sin blowing up in their face.  Take the example of Hagar, Sarah the wife of the patriarch, Abraham's, maidservant.  You can read the story for yourself in Genesis 21:8-21.  We don't typically look at this story and think "oh poor Hagar."  That is because we are usually looking at this from Abraham and Sarah's perspective.  All Hagar did was obey her master, who made a human decision based on facts and realities, not on the power of God.  Sarah got jealous and Hagar is a victim of the fallout.  We learn four things about God in this story:

1.  God honors his promise with the downtrodden as well as the blessed.

2.  God comforts the brokenhearted

3.  God provides for the needs of the needy.

4.  God remains with the helpless.

It is important to remind people going through dark times caused by others that, yes, it hurts now, but it doesn't last forever.  Also, God is actively working in their life even though they might not see it at the moment.  Just being there for this person in their time of need is the biggest thing you can do for them.