The Daily CHEW™
Moving God’s Love from Head to Heart for Christian Professionals

When Merit Doesn’t Matter and Nepotism Wins

Jennifer was up for a promotion, and by every major category, it looked like it was going to be hers. Her performance reviews were stellar, her team’s results spoke for themselves, and even her colleagues expected the announcement. But the boss gave the promotion to his son instead—someone with less experience, fewer results, and no proven leadership. Jennifer was devastated. So was her team. “I know God is sovereign,” she said quietly, “but I can’t stop replaying the unfairness. Where was God’s protection when I needed it most?” The injustice consumed her thoughts more than trust in God’s purposes she couldn’t yet see.

The Gospel Pattern: God’s Sovereignty Includes Both Restraint AND Allowance

Here’s what transforms everything: The biblical pattern reveals two profound truths about God’s protective love—sometimes God restrains injustice supernaturally (like with Laban), and sometimes God allows suffering for purposes that serve a greater good we cannot yet see (like with Joseph). Both are expressions of His sovereign love.​

When God Restrains: The Laban Example

When Laban pursued Jacob with clear intent to harm him, God appeared to Laban in a dream with this warning: “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad” (Genesis 31:24). Laban later admitted openly: “I have it in my power to do you harm, but…the God of your father spoke to me last night” (Genesis 31:29). God’s single word completely neutralized the threat before confrontation even occurred.​

When God Allows: The Joseph and Three Hebrews Examples

But God doesn’t always work this way—and that’s equally an expression of His sovereign love.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declared: “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace…But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods” (Daniel 3:17-18). They understood that God’s power to save didn’t obligate Him to save in the way they hoped—yet they trusted Him either way.​

Joseph experienced years of injustice—betrayed by brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned—yet later testified: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive” (Genesis 50:20). God didn’t restrain Joseph’s suffering—He redeemed it for purposes that saved nations.​

The profound insight: God knows all the ripple effects of every single thing He allows or restrains. If we could see those ripple effects, loved ourselves the way God loves Christ, and were incapable of making mistakes, we would choose the same path—even the painful one. Sometimes God’s protection means preventing harm. Other times, His protection means allowing present pain to prevent something far worse we’ll never know about, or to accomplish good we cannot yet imagine.​

CHEW On This™ in 3-5 Minutes (Precise, God-Focused)

Confess (C) to God:
“Father, here’s what I’m honestly feeling: I experienced real injustice—I was passed over unfairly. I don’t know if You chose not to intervene or if You allowed this for purposes I can’t see. I’m consumed by replaying the unfairness instead of trusting Your sovereignty—whether You intervene supernaturally or redeem suffering I don’t understand yet.”

Hear (H) from God in Scripture:
“Father, what Scripture do You want me to wrestle with about Your sovereign purposes in injustice?”
“Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” (Genesis 31:24)​
“But even if He does not, let it be known…that we will not serve your gods.” (Daniel 3:18)​
“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)​

(What is true about You or Your love in this? You sometimes prevent injustice before it happens, and sometimes allow unfairness that accomplishes good I cannot yet see. Both are expressions of Your sovereign, protective love.)

Exchange (E) with God:

• Option 1 (Beginner):
  “If I really believed God loves me as much as He loves Jesus, what would change right now?”
• Option 2 (Intermediate):
  “If I really believed God loves me as much as He loves Jesus—sovereignly deciding whether to prevent or allow this injustice based on purposes I may never fully understand—how would that change the mental energy I spend replaying the unfairness?”
• Option 3 (Advanced):
  “If I really believed God’s protective love includes BOTH miraculous intervention (like Laban) AND redemptive suffering (like Joseph)—that He knows every ripple effect and would choose this path if I had His knowledge and loved myself as He does—how would that transform where I focus: demanding my preferred outcome or trusting His sovereign purposes?”

“Today, I give You my demand that You work the way I want, and take hold of Your promise to work all things for good, whether through intervention or redemption.”

Walk (W) with the Holy Spirit:
“Holy Spirit, please guide me to trust God’s sovereignty whether He prevented or allowed this injustice for purposes beyond my sight.”
“Here’s the step I believe pleases You: Every time I’m tempted to replay the unfairness, I’ll CHEW on one truth about God’s sovereignty—either His power to intervene or His wisdom in allowing injustice for greater purposes—replacing bitterness with worship.”
“Holy Spirit, if there’s a better step, shift me!”

Three Ways to Trust God’s Sovereignty When Injustice Wins

1. God Sometimes Prevents Injustice Before It Executes

Laban pursued with harmful intent yet never executed his plan because God intervened the night before confrontation. This is preemptive protection you’ll never know about—promotions you didn’t get because the company was about to collapse, decisions God redirected, schemes He stopped before they developed.​

2. God Sometimes Allows Injustice That Serves Greater Good

Joseph endured years of unfair treatment yet saw God’s purpose: saving nations from famine. Sometimes God’s protection means allowing present pain to prevent worse outcomes or accomplish purposes beyond our imagination. Romans 8:28 isn’t a guarantee circumstances improve—it’s assurance God weaves even injustice into His good purposes for those who love Him.​

3. God’s Faithfulness Remains Regardless of Outcome

The three Hebrew men said “even if He does not” deliver us, we’ll still trust Him. This is mature faith: trusting God’s character whether He prevents injustice or allows suffering we don’t understand.​

What Changes When You Trust God’s Sovereignty Over Fairness

When God’s sovereign love becomes your primary focus:

You stop demanding He work your way and start trusting His wisdom
You recognize He either prevented worse injustices you’ll never know about OR allowed this for purposes beyond your sight
You make wise decisions without bitterness controlling you
You sleep at night knowing God knows every ripple effect of what He allows or prevents
You focus energy on faithfulness instead of replaying unfairness

Worship: The God Whose Sovereignty We Trust When Unfairness Wins

Worship God today as the One whose love includes both miraculous intervention and redemptive suffering. Thank Him that whether He stopped injustice or allowed it for greater purposes, His sovereign love is working. The unfairness is real—but God’s sovereign purposes are greater, whether you see them now or not.

Community + Resources

Community:
Process injustice alongside others who understand that God’s sovereignty includes both intervention and allowance. Find support here.

Want More?
The Daily CHEW™ | Make CHEWing a daily rhythm

Select Resources:

• When God’s Promises Meet Our Mixed Faith
• Facing Our Anger at God: Why Wrestling With Him Is Good
• What Are Core Beliefs?

With you on the journey,
Ryan