Does God cause evil?
- While there are some scripture that seem to indicate otherwise – Isaiah 45:7 says God send good & bad times
- It is widely accepted that everything God does is good – Genesis 1 and 2– everything in the garden is good
- Psalms 107:1 – Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever
- God’s goodness that leads us to turn to Him – Romans 2:4
- James 1:13– God does not tempt nor test with evil
- James 1:17– “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”
- Even righteous judgment is considered good – Then why so much evil? Love 1s dying, school shootings, hatred
But God does allow evil.
- In Job 1:12, Job 2:6, Satan has to ask permission to attack Job – Job 1:12 – “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence. Revelations 12:10 – accuser of the brethren
- But why does God allow evil to exists – like my mother use to say – brought you into the world, take you out
- This presents a problem to people – either God likes people to suffer or God is unable to stop evil, and that leads many to not believe in God when things go wrong
- Isaiah 55:8 – “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
God has a priority list with “relationships” sitting at the highest spot on that list.
- While death and life sit real high on our list, maybe not as high on God’s list. He has eternity in His view.
- Death of His people is precious in His eyes – Psalms 116:15
- Relationship was in the Godhead before creation existed – Genesis 1:26–
- And we were created in that image of the Godhead.
- Two great commandments all about relationship – Matthew 22:37-40 – Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Choice
- By allowing choice/free will, evil had to exists opposite to a good God – Genesis 3:5 – Adam and Eve wouldn’t even know of evil if they only ate from tree of life
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of free will – voluntary choice or decision.
- Without free will you can’t have real, unconditional love.
- God self-imposes His own rules on Himself.
How do we deal with all of this? By allowing God use the evil and turn it into good!
- Trusting what was meant for evil, God can turn around – Genesis 50:20 – But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
- Trusting that God is good– Romans 8:28 – And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
- We must overcome evil with good. People going to need our help. We need to show the contrast between good and evil, light and darkness.
- Jesus is God’s response to death and evil – death has no sting.
- The first important relationship is with the Father, thru the son, Jesus Christ.
- Many are an emotional wreck, incapable of loving others – We need to restore/heal our relationship with God to heal emotionally.
- God is up to something, exposing evil with light (2 Corinthians 3:18) and overcoming it with good (Romans 12:21)
- We are to be agents of this love (John 13:35) – He desires to use us but the choice is ours.