God, the Author and Finisher of Evil

Evil does not hinder God's creation; It's a part of it

The depths of Satan and the depths of evil throughout the ages is appalling. How could God allow such atrocities to take place in His creation?

I am not pretending to be someone that understands why there is so much suffering and pain in the world. However, perhaps the answer lies in the depths of Satan and evil. Maybe we have to experience this in order to truly understand and marvel in the depths of God and His goodness.

After all, Ecclesiastes 1:13 says concerning all that is done under the heavens: It is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.

So, this life is an experience of evil. Of course, some good is mixed in but perhaps this experience is preparing us for something. Maybe we, as humans, cannot understand righteousness if we don’t experience sin…perhaps we cannot know the full joy of being immortal if we do not experience the ravages of death…and experiencing the bitter depths of evil, sin, and failure only give us a greater understanding of God’s goodness, sinlessness, and success.

I believe that from scripture, we can prove that God created evil for a purpose and plans everything in His universe. This evil serves as a contrast for humans to truly know good and enjoy it even more having experienced evil. Then, when evil has served its purpose, it will be done away with forever.

Think about it…there is nothing you know without knowing the opposite. For instance, you cannot understand winning without understanding losing…you can’t understand up without knowing down…you can’t appreciate honesty if you don’t know dishonesty. Everything we know is based on also understanding the opposite. So it is with evil.

First, to examine evil more closely, lets look at who created it in the first place.

Former of light and Creator of darkness, Maker of good and Creator of Evil, I, Yahweh, make all these things. - Isaiah 45:7

Here, according to Isaiah, Yahweh is speaking in the first person claiming to be the creator of evil. Not Satan, not any human, but Yahweh Himself. The word evil used in this verse is the Hebrew word ‘ra/rah’ and it is the same word used to describe the ‘evil’ people in Noah’s day wiped out by the flood and the same word used in Genesis 2:9 to describe the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil. The word is ‘bad,evil’ and God created it.

Many object to these plain words of scripture because they are trying to protect God because they conclude that God must be evil, if He created it. However, this is not true if God uses ‘evil’ in order to eventually produce a greater ‘good.’ This is exactly what God does.

For instance, Acts 4: 27-28 says that those that murdered Jesus, an evil act I’d say, did this because God planned it. This evil act, planned by God, resulted in salvation for all creation. So, it was evil of these people to plan and carry out this act. However, God used it for ultimate good. So, God does this with all evil.

27 For of a truth, in this city were gathered against Thy holy Boy Jesus, Whom Thou dost anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the nations and the peoples of Israel,
28 to do whatever Thy hand and Thy counsel designates beforehand to occur.

Another example is when Joseph’s brothers planned to kill him and then sold him into slavery. This was evil of the brothers but God planned this so that Joseph would raise to power in Egypt in order to save all of Israel. Without the evil acts of the brothers, Joseph would not have risen to power and Israel would have starved to death.

In fact, Joseph actually said to his brothers, “You devised evil against me, yet Elohim, He devised it for good in order to accomplish, as at this day, to preserve many people alive.” That’s from Genesis 50:20.

God hardened Pharaoh’s heart in order to show His power to the entire world so that God’s name would be praised. On and on go scriptural examples of God planning evil in order to fulfill a good purpose.

What if God did not create evil?

If God did not create evil then a foreign element has invaded His creation that He cannot control. Therefore, God becomes REACTIVE to this evil that He did not create and has to adjust His plan accordingly. Even more so, this evil can thwart His plan. God, Who wills that all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). This verse becomes a pathetic wish from a God that can’t get what He wants because of evil. This makes Satan, or whoever created evil, a god on equal footing with the Almighty. Those that want to protect God from His creation of evil actually succeed in taking Him off His throne.

The truth is that God creates and uses evil for an ultimate good purpose that we as humans don’t always comprehend. However, once evil runs its course and all creation is home with God, evil and all enemies are abolished (1 Corinthians 15: 25-27) and found nowhere in creation.

So, the God, Who wills that all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4) actually gets what He wants and evil is a part of this, not something that can stop it. Thus, making Ephesians 1:11 true: …One Who is operating all in accord with the counsel of His will…

So, scripture proves that God wants or wills to save all mankind, then has the power to do all He wants or wills. Evil, God’s own creation, cannot stop Him but is a means to the end.

Evil and sin go hand and hand, wouldn’t you say? Well, what about sin?

Many think that sin entered the world without God’s approval or plan but Revelation 13:8 says the Lambkin slain from the disruption of the world. The disruption of the world occurred before Adam and Eve were ever created. Therefore, God had the remedy for sin before Adam and Eve sinned. He planned it all.

Why? Because without sin, God would not have been able to show His creation how much He loved them by sending His only Son to save them. Without sin, no need for a Savior…without sin, God could not show the extent of His love through Christ.

In my next article, I will review more scripture that proves beyond any doubt that God is the Author and Controller of evil.

Grace and peace to you all.

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