The God Who Works Within
God doesn't always tear down the wall—sometimes He lets His light break through the cracks.
God’s Sovereignty and Human Systems
God Doesn’t Always Tear Down the System—Sometimes He Works Within It
If God is good (and He is), why doesn’t He immediately destroy the evil institutions man creates?
It’s a question as old as the fall—and as urgent as the headlines. Why would God allow something like slavery to persist in the ancient world? Or allow unjust governments to rise? Or corrupt hierarchies to maintain power? Why not abolish them outright?
The answer, surprising as it may sound, is not a failure of God's justice—but a revelation of His redemptive wisdom. God rarely chooses the route of instant demolition. Instead, He often steps into the systems man builds and begins a quiet revolution—one that starts in the heart and flows outward in grace and truth.
Ordained Structures, Not Endorsed Corruption
Romans 13:1 tells us that “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Yet this doesn’t mean God approves of the way every government or institution operates. Nebuchadnezzar ruled by God’s allowance (Daniel 4:17), but also faced divine judgment for his pride. Pharaoh held power by divine design (Romans 9:17), yet his tyranny brought down plagues.
God institutes authority, not abuse. He designs the structure—family, government, stewardship—and permits humanity to occupy these structures. What we do within them reveals whether we walk in the Spirit or in the flesh (Galatians 5:16–21). And when human sin infects the structure, God doesn’t always remove it. Often, He sends His Spirit-filled people into the heart of it to bear witness to a better kingdom.
Redeeming from Within
Take slavery in the Roman world. While the system was entrenched and often brutal, Paul never sanctifies it. Instead, he sows gospel seeds destined to upend it.
He calls for slave and master alike to recognize the same Lord over both (Ephesians 6:9).
He sends Onesimus, a runaway slave, back to Philemon with a radical appeal—not as property, but “more than a slave, as a beloved brother” (Philemon 1:16).
He reminds the church that in Christ “there is neither slave nor free” (Galatians 3:28).
These are not political manifestos—they are spiritual depth charges. Paul isn't calling for violent rebellion. He's calling for heart-level transformation. And when hearts are changed, systems inevitably follow.
The Pattern of Redemption: Enter, Transform, Redeem
Scripture is filled with moments when God works through, not around, corrupt systems:
Joseph was sold into slavery and imprisoned by injustice, yet God used Egypt's own political machinery to preserve life (Genesis 50:20).
Daniel served faithfully within Babylon’s pagan court, revealing the sovereignty of Yahweh even in exile (Daniel 2, 4, 6).
Jesus submitted to corrupt religious and Roman authorities—without approving them—so that through death, He might conquer the very powers of darkness operating behind those systems (Colossians 2:15).
We often want God to bulldoze evil structures. But God often plants life through the cracks. His kingdom comes not by overthrow, but by overflow.
Judgment Without Partiality
God does not ignore evil. The systems that oppress, exploit, or dehumanize will answer to Him. Romans 2:6 says, “He will repay each person according to what they have done,” and verse 11 reminds us that “God shows no partiality.” Position, rank, or status will not shield anyone before His throne.
So when God allows flawed systems to remain, it is never because He approves of evil. Rather, He allows a season for redemption. A season for witness. A season for hearts to respond. But that season will not last forever. Judgment is real, and so is mercy.
Standing in the Midst, Not Escaping the Fight
Believers are not called to withdraw from the world or crusade against it in their own strength. We’re called to stand—clothed in the life of Christ, abiding in His Spirit, proclaiming His gospel.
We may live in systems scarred by sin, but we are not slaves to them. We walk as free men and women—because we have already been set free (John 8:36). And sometimes, that freedom becomes a quiet rebellion that no power on earth can suppress.
Final Thought
God doesn’t always tear down the system. He does something greater—He steps inside and begins to rebuild it from the heart outward. And through us, He lets the world see a different kingdom rising.
So whether you’re serving in a flawed workplace, living under an unjust law, or walking through a broken family dynamic, remember: the Redeemer is already there. Not ignoring the cracks, but sowing life through them.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Scriptures Referenced: Romans 13:1–4; Daniel 4:17; Romans 9:17; Genesis 50:20; Philemon 1:16; Ephesians 6:9; Galatians 3:28; Romans 2:6,11; Colossians 2:15; John 8:36; Galatians 5:16–21