איוב, פרק ל״ד, פסוק כ״ז

A person's distance from God's providence often begins with a deep misunderstanding of how He guides the world. This confusion sets off a tragic cycle of sin, spiritual blindness, and ultimate punishment.

When looking at the connection between the actions of the wicked and the judgment they face, the primary approach among commentators is to view their poor choices as the direct cause of their downfall. They face punishment and are removed from the world because they willingly strayed from the right path [רמב״ן, מצודת דוד]. Ultimately, their corrupt actions are what cause the cries of the poor and oppressed to rise up before God [רש״י].

However, another perspective views their distancing from God as a result of human doubt. Because God does not always punish the wicked in an open and immediate way for everyone to see, people begin to question whether He is truly watching over the world. Once this doubt takes root, their hearts become bold enough to commit evil, making it no surprise that they turn away from Him [מלבי״ם, אלשיך].

The root of this entire problem lies in a profound failure to comprehend God's actions. The wicked have not learned or understood [ביאור שטיינזלץ] even a single one of His ways [מצודת דוד]. They mistakenly believe that a delayed punishment means God is turning a blind eye to their behavior. In reality, this hiddenness is a deliberate choice on His part, designed specifically to leave humanity with a true space for free will [מלבי״ם].