Joseph told his brothers that God meant their evil deeds for the overall good in Gen. 50:20. Yes, God manipulates evil for the greater good of man and glory of God. Why? There's so much evil to work with, why not? God turns the wrath of man into praise per Psalm 76:10! You may ask, "Why does God permit evil?" Friday wondered the same question in Robinson Crusoe: If God were to wipe it out right now, who would be left that isn't besmirched or tainted with evil through and through? God directs events, but some He only permits or allows to happen indirectly--but God is still in charge.
God is holy and cannot bear the sight of evil nor allow it in His presence; He cannot countenance any sin or iniquity (cf. Hab. 1:13). Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil (cf. Isaiah 5:20). God has a purpose for everything, even the wicked for the day of evil (cf. Prov. 16:4). God will ultimately judge it and bring everyone to account for their deeds, whether good or evil (cf. Eccl. 12:14). Point in fact: God already did something about evil; He made you!
God is not the author of evil, but if good didn't exist, there would be no evil--it's not an independent force a la yin yang--and it only exists as a parasite on good, because it's a perversion and distortion of good (note: it's not the opposite of good and couldn't exist but for there being good to counterfeit without God), and we wouldn't know what good was without there being evil; would a fish know what dry air is like? We have tasted of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and innocent children are unaware of it until the age of accountability (cf. Deut. 1:39; Isa. 7:16). If God were good, but not just and almighty, evil would be able to take over and corrupt all, but God restrains it and will judge it; justice delayed is not justice denied. If there were no hell, God would be neither good nor just nor almighty. We live in the day of grace and the Day of the Lord and of Judgment will eventually come to pass. The mature believer discerns good and evil and is able to avoid evil and even hates it (cf. Heb. 5:14). The fear of God is, therefore, to hate evil according to Proverb 8:13.
The whole point of allowing evil is to bring glory to God in the end result: evil makes good shine all the brighter; during a disaster, Good Samaritans show forth the love of Christ in relief efforts. You may ask, "Where was God when 9/11 happened?" I say, "Where wasn't He?" Some people see evil and say "Why?" while others see the good and say, "Why not?" God is everywhere, this is known as ubiquity or omnipresence. God is both transcendent or separate and removed from creation, but also immanent or close by, in that He is fully everywhere, and not partially anywhere. God created the time/space continuum and can use it and isn't defined nor confined by it. God is, therefore, able to guide by providence whatsoever takes place--every event and every creature's activity under the sun.
We don't blame God for evil, because man willingly does it, and not by compulsion. Evil originated with Satan's pride and fall from heaven, and our evil had its origin in the original sin of Adam, which is imputed to our account and we are born into: we are sinners by nature, by choice, by birth, in fact, we have our solidarity in Adam with no more inclination to good, but we are not compelled nor impelled to sin, but inclined and predisposed to evil or sin, but we are not inclined to good, which was lost in the fall.
In the end, God doesn't owe man an explanation (He's too kind to be cruel, too wise to make a mistake, and too deep to explain Himself); we owe God an explanation! God does as He pleases in all creation (cf. Psalm 135:6). "But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever He wants to do, he does" (Job 23:13, NLT). No one can ask Him what He's doing and why (cf. Daniel 4:35; Job 9:32). God says, "...Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish" (Isaiah 46:10, NLT).
God rules He doesn't just reign like the do-nothing monarch of the UK. "He rules over the nations, and dominion belongs to the LORD (cf. Psalm 22:28). God is able to turn the heart of the king like water of a river (cf. Prov. 21:1). Man can make his plots, but the Lord overrules and frustrates the evil of the nations: "The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes" (Ps. 33:10, NLT).
Indeed, note that "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps" (Prov. 16:9, NLT). Man doesn't "get away" with evil, but will be held accountable at Judgment Day and he will reap his recompense. Job was a man of integrity who shunned evil: "And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding" (Job 28:28, NKJV). Man ponders as to why bad things happen to good people without wondering why good things happen to bad people!
In sum, we must claim the promise of Romans 8:28, KJV, that says, "And we know that all things work together for good [turning proximate evil into long-term blessings] to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose." Soli Deo Gloria!
God is holy and cannot bear the sight of evil nor allow it in His presence; He cannot countenance any sin or iniquity (cf. Hab. 1:13). Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil (cf. Isaiah 5:20). God has a purpose for everything, even the wicked for the day of evil (cf. Prov. 16:4). God will ultimately judge it and bring everyone to account for their deeds, whether good or evil (cf. Eccl. 12:14). Point in fact: God already did something about evil; He made you!
God is not the author of evil, but if good didn't exist, there would be no evil--it's not an independent force a la yin yang--and it only exists as a parasite on good, because it's a perversion and distortion of good (note: it's not the opposite of good and couldn't exist but for there being good to counterfeit without God), and we wouldn't know what good was without there being evil; would a fish know what dry air is like? We have tasted of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and innocent children are unaware of it until the age of accountability (cf. Deut. 1:39; Isa. 7:16). If God were good, but not just and almighty, evil would be able to take over and corrupt all, but God restrains it and will judge it; justice delayed is not justice denied. If there were no hell, God would be neither good nor just nor almighty. We live in the day of grace and the Day of the Lord and of Judgment will eventually come to pass. The mature believer discerns good and evil and is able to avoid evil and even hates it (cf. Heb. 5:14). The fear of God is, therefore, to hate evil according to Proverb 8:13.
The whole point of allowing evil is to bring glory to God in the end result: evil makes good shine all the brighter; during a disaster, Good Samaritans show forth the love of Christ in relief efforts. You may ask, "Where was God when 9/11 happened?" I say, "Where wasn't He?" Some people see evil and say "Why?" while others see the good and say, "Why not?" God is everywhere, this is known as ubiquity or omnipresence. God is both transcendent or separate and removed from creation, but also immanent or close by, in that He is fully everywhere, and not partially anywhere. God created the time/space continuum and can use it and isn't defined nor confined by it. God is, therefore, able to guide by providence whatsoever takes place--every event and every creature's activity under the sun.
We don't blame God for evil, because man willingly does it, and not by compulsion. Evil originated with Satan's pride and fall from heaven, and our evil had its origin in the original sin of Adam, which is imputed to our account and we are born into: we are sinners by nature, by choice, by birth, in fact, we have our solidarity in Adam with no more inclination to good, but we are not compelled nor impelled to sin, but inclined and predisposed to evil or sin, but we are not inclined to good, which was lost in the fall.
In the end, God doesn't owe man an explanation (He's too kind to be cruel, too wise to make a mistake, and too deep to explain Himself); we owe God an explanation! God does as He pleases in all creation (cf. Psalm 135:6). "But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever He wants to do, he does" (Job 23:13, NLT). No one can ask Him what He's doing and why (cf. Daniel 4:35; Job 9:32). God says, "...Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish" (Isaiah 46:10, NLT).
God rules He doesn't just reign like the do-nothing monarch of the UK. "He rules over the nations, and dominion belongs to the LORD (cf. Psalm 22:28). God is able to turn the heart of the king like water of a river (cf. Prov. 21:1). Man can make his plots, but the Lord overrules and frustrates the evil of the nations: "The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes" (Ps. 33:10, NLT).
Indeed, note that "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps" (Prov. 16:9, NLT). Man doesn't "get away" with evil, but will be held accountable at Judgment Day and he will reap his recompense. Job was a man of integrity who shunned evil: "And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding" (Job 28:28, NKJV). Man ponders as to why bad things happen to good people without wondering why good things happen to bad people!
In sum, we must claim the promise of Romans 8:28, KJV, that says, "And we know that all things work together for good [turning proximate evil into long-term blessings] to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose." Soli Deo Gloria!
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