1 Chronicles 24

“Then David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to the schedule of their service.  There were more leaders found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar, and thus they were divided.  Among the sons of Eleazar were sixteen heads of their fathers’ houses, and eight heads of their fathers’ houses among the sons of Ithamar.  Thus they were divided by lot, one group as another, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of the house of God, from the sons of Eleazar and from the sons of Ithamar.”  1 Chronicles 24:3-5 (NKJV)

Some people believe God has not been fair to them.  They look at others with better lifestyles, more interesting jobs, or a beautiful spouse, and they feel cheated.  They know God is omniscient (knowing all things), omnipresent (always present in their lives), and omnipotent (having the power to affect change), but they have serious questions about His character.  How could He possess all those attributes yet withhold their idea of “blessings” for them?  If you have felt this way about God at times, you are not alone.  I have felt that way.  Surely, the Levites entertained that idea, as their duties were being decided by a roll of the dice (lot).  And so did the apostle Peter, as he compared his ministry calling to that of the apostle John.  

“Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”  Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”  Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me.”  John 21:20-22 (NKJV)

After recounting the great victories of the Bible’s faithful men, the writer of Hebrews then lists a group of equally faithful martyrs who suffered greatly.

“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still, others had trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword.  They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy.  They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”  Hebrews 11:35b-40 (NKJV)

It’s easy to see how someone could read those verses and wonder how God could be so unfair.  But there is one problem with that notion.  God is NOT fair.  He is JUST.  Fairness assumes everyone gets the same thing.  Justice demands that God (in His infinite wisdom) always chooses rightly and knows how to dispense His blessing of grace through hardship as well as abundance.  Believers who acknowledge that, have truly found peace, which passes understanding!  (Philippians 4:7)