God and “Evil”

Colossians 2:2, Attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

There are mysteries concerning God that we can know and some we can’t and shouldn’t know (Deuteronomy 29:29).  Often the mysteries are because of our lack of understanding from lack of study or by allowing the world to frame the rules and opinions.  Such is the case of a good God and the existence and terror of evil.  Why Satan and why does he get to do what he does?  Thoughts:

1. God Created all:

Isaiah 42:5, Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it.

Colossians 1:16, For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth visible and invisible…All things were created through Him and for Him.

2. God Controls all:

Colossians 1:17, And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Hebrews 1:3, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power

3. God Allows evil:

God created Satan and men knowing they would rebel and bring on evil, pain and loss.

Revelation 13:8, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love

These verses and others tell us that God made beings with the ability to rebel and knowing they would, before creating anything, He set in place the means to address the evil.  God created beings that could by an act of their will love and praise Him and could also opt to not do so.

4. God Defines evil:

Often we define evil (loss, pain and injustice) or we let the world do so when God has a different definition.  We see the death of a child as evil or being unduly fired as evil.  Does God?

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.

Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

John 9:2-3, His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

5. God Allows and Limits evil:

Job 1:11-12, But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”  also Job 2:4-7

God seen allowing, limiting for God is up to bettering Job and He did – Job 42:1-5.

II Corinthians 12:8-9, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure…  I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you.   Also, I Corinthians 10:13.

6. God Uses evil:

God allows evil as He uses it for His glory. The greatest example of this is in the cross.

John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish

Acts 2:23, Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death

7. God is right and good!  Hebrews 11:6 – Faith believes God, knows God is at work, and diligently seeks God!